Is gastric intestinal metaplasia a risk factor for colorectal neoplasms?

Abstract

Colorectal cancers are one of the most common types of cancer. Gastric intestinal metaplasia is considered a precancerous lesion that can progress into gastric cancer. Even though there are previous reports that Helicobacter pylori and intestinal metaplasia are related to colorectal adenomas, there are also studies stating the opposite. This study aimed explored the relationship between gastric intestinal metaplasia and colorectal neoplasia. A total of 214 patients between the ages of 19 and 92 who underwent combined gastroscopy and colonoscopy between August 2016 and April 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Medical records including demographic data, gastroscopy and colonoscopy findings and histopathology results of the patients were reviewed and analyzed. The association of intestinal metaplasia and H. pylori infection with colorectal neoplasia was evaluated in these patients. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 49.07 ± 15.80, and 125 (58.4%) of the patients were male. A statistically significant correlation was found between intestinal metaplasia and colon neoplasm prevalence (p = 0.03). However, such a correlation was not seen between H. pylori and colon neoplasia. In conclusion, a positive correlation was found between gastric intestinal metaplasia, which is a precancerous lesion, and colon neoplasia. Even though this correlation indicates higher prevalence rates of colon neoplasia in patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia, how to evaluate these patients in terms of colon neoplasia remains a controversial issue.

Keywords

• intestinal metaplasia
• colorectal neoplasm
• helicobacter pylori
• endoscopy