Endoscopic findings in a biennial follow-up program in patients with pernicious anemia.
OBJECTIVE
It is known that patients with pernicious anemia have a higher risk of gastric neoplasms. However, the optimal endoscopic follow-up in these patients has not been properly defined. This study was aimed to assess the usefulness of an endoscopic follow-up program.


METHODS
We analyzed the endoscopic and histological findings of the first endoscopy performed in a group of 128 patients with the diagnosis of pernicious anemia who were referred to the Endoscopic Unit, and we evaluated the results of the biannual follow-up endoscopies made to 68 of them.


RESULTS
The initial endoscopy did not provide evidence of any lesions in 107 patients (83.5%), and polypoid lesions were found in 12 cases (9.4%). The histological results showed gastric dysplasia in 3 patients (2.3%) and carcinoid tumor in 2 cases (1.6%). No cases of gastric carcinoma were found. During the endoscopic follow-up of 68 patients, in 52 of them (76.8%) there were no endoscopic findings, and raised lesions were detected in 8 patients (11.8%). Three cases of gastric dysplasia were found. No cases of gastric carcinoma or carcinoid were detected during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that a biannual endoscopic follow-up in not useful for the early detection of gastric neoplasms in patients with pernicious anemia.
Bresky
G
G
Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology Department, Institut de Malalties Digestives, Hospital Clínic Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
Mata
A
A
Llach
J
J
Ginis
M A
MA
Pellisi
M
M
Soria
M T
MT
Fernandez-Esparrach
G
G
Mondelo
F
F
Bordas
J M
JM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013030:Spain; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology