ENDOSCOPIC AND HISTOLOGICAL APPEARANCE OF PANCREATIC METAPLASIA IN THE HUMAN GASTRIC-MUCOSA - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT ON A RECENTLY RECOGNIZEDNEW-TYPE OF GASTRIC-MUCOSAL METAPLASIA

Recently a new type of gastric mucosal metaplasia referred to as pancr eatic metaplasia (pancreatic acinar metaplasia) has been recognized. T he difference is characterized by the presence of epithelial cells wit h the cytoplasm strongly basophilic in the basal compartment, whereas in the middle and apical portions it is acidophilic and finely granula r. In contrast: to intramuscular heterotopic pancreas, foci of pancrea tic metaplasia are located in the lamina propria of the gastric mucosa . They form lobules, small clusters, or may be single. The present ser ies included 13 cases of pancreatic metaplasia found in gastroscopic s pecimens obtained from seven women and six men. We investigated the hi stological pattern and endoscopic changes. Based upon clinical data it was found that in five patients the gastric mucosa was defined as 'di chromatic'. It is possible that studies involving greater numbers of p atients will permit closer correlation between the histological patter n of pancreatic metaplasia and the corresponding endoscopic changes.