ENDOSCOPIC AND PATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS-ASSOCIATEDGASTRIC-CARCINOMA

Background: Although the presence of Epstein-Barr virus has been docum ented in approximately 7% of patients with gastric carcinoma, the clin ical features of Epstein-Barr virus-associated carcinoma have not been well documented. We studied the histologic and endoscopic characteris tics of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma. Methods: We t ested 124 gastric carcinomas from 117 patients using in situ hybridiza tion for Epstein-Barr virus encoded small RNA1. The histologic and end oscopic findings in the Epstein-Barr virus-associated groups and the n egative control groups were analyzed and compared. Results: Twelve tum ors (9.7%) were identified as Epstein-Barr virus associated. These les ions were located mainly in the upper part of the stomach (p<.05) and had a diffuse-type histology (p<.05) compared with those in the contro l group. Six of seven (85.7%) early Epstein-Barr virus-associated lesi ons were type 0 IIc (superficial depressed) or a combined type, and 42 .9% were accompanied by submucosal nodules of carcinoma with lymphoid stroma. Four of five (80%) advanced Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumo rs were type 3 (ulcerated without definite limits), thought to be the advanced shape of superficial depressed lesions. Conclusions: Epstein- Barr virus-associated gastric carcinomas often appear as superficial d epressed or ulcerated lesions in the upper part of the stomach and hav e a diffuse-type histology with lymphoid infiltration.