title: Helicobacter pylori detected in pharyngeal and laryngeal pathologies in patients with proven gastric colonization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori is known to cause gastric cancer. Presence and carcinogenicity in the upper aerodigestive system is doubtful. This study examined the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and related factors in biopsies from the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) in patients with gastric colonization by Helicobacter pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case series study, 26 patients with histopathologically confirmed gastric colonization were identified. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on matched formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of the stomach and the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Helicobacter pylori was found in 38% of the samples from the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. An association with malignancies in these regions or possible risk factors, such as age, smoking, or alcohol, was not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The upper aerodigestive system seems to be an additional reservoir in a significant percentage of patients presenting with Helicobacter pylori gastritis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fellmann
authors.forename: Jan U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Weisert
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soltermann
authors.forename: Grégoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morand
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.forename: Gerhard F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Probst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007830:Larynx / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013557:Switzerland; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; larynx; oral cavity; pharynx; polymerase chain reaction