[Chromoendoscopic study of the gastric mucosa].

Chromoendoscopy is an intravital endoscopic mucosa dyeing method. Chromoendoscopical methods suitable for examination of gastric mucosa are described including the steps of premedication as well as the steps of Congo-red and methylene-blue tests. The Congo-red test is capable of estimating the extent of acid-secreting area of gastric mucosa. Large acid secreting areas were found in four-fifth of duodenal ulcer patients with the Congo-red test. An equal ratio of small and large acid-secreting areas was found in gastric ulcer patients. The extent of acid-secreting area decreased parallely with the increase of mucosal atrophy in chronic gastritis patients. Methylene-blue test is suitable for detecting mucosal areas containing intestinal metaplasia and cancer. Intestinal metaplasia was detected histologically in 80% of cases containing mucosal areas stained by methylene-blue test. According to the authors' observations chromoendoscopy is a time consumptive additional method, which requires careful premedication and accurate endoscopic technique. Chromoendoscopy is suitable to detect the accurate places of mucosal biopsies therefore it seems to be a valuable element of morpho-functional diagnostic methods.