title: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and gastric cancer in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The etiology of gastric cancer has not been clearly delineated. There is some evidence of an association of gastric cancer with Helicobacter pylori-induced chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Previous studies report a high rate of H. pylori infection and chronic gastritis among Nigerians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 84 tissue specimens with gastric cancer seen in our department over an 18-year period for for the presence of H. pylori infection, chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia in the adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. pylori infection was detected in 15 (17.9%) of 84 specimens. Moderate to severe gastritis was found in non-cancerous areas in 77 (91.7%) specimens, and was equally frequent in patients with 'intestinal' and 'diffuse' types of cancer. Atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were observed in 22 (26.2%) and 35 (41.7%) specimens, respectively, and were more common in 'intestinal' type of gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic gastritis was seen in the adjacent non-cancerous mucosa in most specimens with gastric cancer. However, its severity did not correlate with the histological subtype of gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ibadan, PMB 5116 Ibadan, Nigeria. oluwasol@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Oluwasola
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ogunbiyi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*