Inflammatory, preneoplastic, and neoplastic changes of the gastric mucosa. Examinations by the AgNORT-technique.

The gastric surface epithelium of 101 antrum biopsies was examined by the AgNOR-technique. The material included normal mucosa, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, gastric ulcer, intestinal metaplasia type I and type III, dysplasia grades I-III and carcinoma. Starting from normal mucosa, a continuous increase in the number of AgNORs could be observed. At the same time, the size of the individual AgNOR-dots decreased. The entire AgNOR area per cell and the AgNOR quotient were ascertained. Groups of significant differences were found and could be clearly defined by cluster analysis. Intestinal metaplasia type I corresponded to inflammatory changes, whereas intestinal metaplasia type III was related to dysplastic lesions.