Abstract
BACKGROUND: An endoscopic procedure that uses a pH indicator called phenol red to assess Helicobacter pylori infected gastric mucosa has recently been developed. This test makes it possible to take biopsy specimens from H pylori infected areas. AIM: This test was applied to patients with early gastric cancers to clarify the role of H pylori in gastric carcinogenesis. SUBJECTS: Sixty five patients with early gastric cancer (50 with differentiated adenocarcinoma and 15 with undifferentiated adenocarcinoma). METHODS: Patients with early gastric cancer underwent the endoscopic phenol red test before their operation. In this test, areas infected with H pylori can be observed as "coloured" areas where phenol red was turned from yellow to red. RESULTS: H pylori infection was significantly (p < 0.001) more frequent in patients with differentiated adenocarcinomas than in those with undifferentiated adenocarcinomas. Differentiated adenocarcinomas were usually located in areas of mucosa infected with H pylori, but undifferentiated adenocarcinomas were frequently located in non-infected areas. CONCLUSION: H pylori may be a strong risk factor for differentiated early gastric cancer.