Association of gastric lymphoid follicles and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Lymphoid tissue is normally absent in the gastric mucosa; however, lymphoid follicles are very frequently noted in Helicobacter-associated gastritis. We reviewed 237 cases of chronic gastritis with lymphoid follicles. Out of this 227 cases (95.8%) were found to have H. pylori infection. The significance of this finding and its possible relationship to primary gastric lymphoma are discussed.