title: Detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering the high prevalence of stomach cancer in the northern region of Brazil and the recognized relationship between chronic gastric inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori, and its carcinogenic potential, the objective we had with this study was to investigate the presence of the microorganism in macro and microscopic presentations of neoplasm in different regions of the stomach, and in non-malignant lesions concomitant to the adenocarcinoma in patients originating from the metropolitan area of Belém (State of Pará, Brazil).
  
  
  METHODS
  Examinations were made on 172 patients divided into two groups: group I, formed by 75 patients with gastric carcinoma, and group II, formed by 97 patients with mild enanthematic gastritis, considered control group. The diagnosis was obtained during endoscopic examination and the respective biopsy. Gastric neoplasms were classified macroscopically in accordance with Borrmann's classification, and microscopically in accordance with Laurén's classification. In group I, 54 patients were male and 21 female while in group II, 22 patients were male and 75 female. The average age in group I was 61.2 years (range 27 to 86 years), while in group II it was 37.5 years (range 16 to 69 years). Thin sections were prepared and stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. In the Helicobacter pylori research, the modified Gram stain was utilized. Statistical analysis was done by utilizing the chi-squared (chi 2) test, Mann-Whitney test (U), and Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed the detection of Helicobacter pylori were significantly greater in patients with mild enanthematic gastritis than in patients with gastric carcinoma. The presence of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric carcinoma and mild enanthematic gastritis was significantly greater in the antral region than in other gastric regions. Helicobacter pylori detection in patients with gastric carcinoma did not present a significant difference in relation to the macroscopic aspect of the tumor either intestinal or diffuse histological types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest the presence of the bacteria is predominant in the antral region and it does not show relation with the macroscopic types or histological intestinal or diffuse types of gastric carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waisberg
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanoto
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mendes Júnior
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology