title: Is gastric nodularity a sign for gastric inflammation associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in children?
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of using gastric nodularity (GN) as a marker for gastric inflammation associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in children. A retrospective analysis of 395 upper endoscopies done in children between 1990-1996 was performed. Demographics, clinical symptoms, endoscopic features, rapid urease test (RUT), and histological results were collected from each report. GN was found in 13 (3.5%) children. GN showed a significant correlation with age but not with gender. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant correlation between GN and gastritis with RUT but not with other histological determinants alone (gastritis, RUT, or H. pylori organisms). Nevertheless, GN had a poor accuracy rate to determine H. pylori-associated gastritis (sensitivity, 61%; positive predictive value, 12%). GN is a poor predictor for gastric inflammation associated with H. pylori infection in children. During endoscopy, gastric biopsies should always be obtained in children to establish the presence of mucosal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia 25701-0195, USA. elitsur@marshall.edu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Elitsur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raghuverra
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sadat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011336:Probability; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity