THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS OF GASTRIC-ULCER SCAR AND ULCER RELAPSE

Regenerated mucosal patterns that appeared during the healing of chron ic gastric ulcers were observed and assessed in detail by magnifying e ndoscopes. Three patterns of ulcer scarring were distinguished: Sa wit h central depression, Sb with a coarse regenerated mucosal pattern, an d Sc with a fine mucosal pattern. From a Study on the relationship bet ween the depth of ulcer confirmed histologically and the endoscopic fi ndings of the scar, a clear distinction could be made endoscopically b etween Ul-IV scar with a well-demarcated scarring zone, Ul-III scar wi th an unclear boundary, and Ul-II scar without a distinct scar area. S car patterns were also related to ulcer depth. Analysis of the relatio nship between an ulcer relapse and the scar pattern demonstrated that the ulcer relapse rate over a 2-year follow-up period was 84% in Sa, 3 3% in Sb, and 0% in Sc.