Is endoscopic nodular gastritis associated with premalignant lesions?

BACKGROUND

Nodularity on the gastric mucosa is occasionally seen in general practice. There is no consensus about the association of nodular gastritis and histological premalignant lesions. This study is designed to investigate the prevalence of histological premalignant lesions in dyspeptic patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis were compared with an age- and sex-matched control group. Endoscopic nodular gastritis was defined as a miliary nodular appearance of the gastric mucosa on endoscopy. Biopsy samples of stomach tissue were examined for the presence of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia. The presence of Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by histology.

RESULTS

From 5366 evaluated patients, a total of 273 patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis and 1103 participants as control group were enrolled. H. pylori infection was detected in 87.5% of the patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis, whereas 73.8% of the control group were positive for H. pylori (p < 0.001). Prevalence of incomplete intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.016) and dysplasia (p < 0.001) in patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis were significantly higher than in the control group. Prevalence of atrophic gastritis and complete intestinal metaplasia were also more frequent in patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Dysplasia, incomplete intestinal metaplasia and H. pylori infection are significantly more frequent in patients with endoscopic nodular gastritis. Although further studies are needed before a clear conclusion can be reached, we suggest that endoscopic nodular gastritis might serve as a premalignant lesion and could be biopsied in all patients for the possibility of histological premalignancy, in addition to H. pylori infection.

Free transfer of expanded parascapular, latissimus dorsi, and expander "capsule" flap for coverage of large lower-extremity soft-tissue defect

The coverage of large soft-tissue defects usually requires a large flap transfer, especially in a combination and expanded form. However, some large soft-tissue defects still cannot be covered by such flaps. In this article, we present a case of a civil war injury in a patient from Afghanistan who had severe trauma to the right knee, lower thigh, and upper leg and a marked soft-tissue defect. This large soft-tissue defect was covered with a large combined free flap of the expanded parascapular and latissimus dorsi muscle, including a large retrograde hinge flap of the tissue expander capsule and a complementary skin graft. The defect was covered completely, and the final result was excellent.

Large arteriovenous high-flow mandibular, malformation with exsanguinating dental socket haemorrhage: a case report

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the jaws are extremely rare lesions, which are probably hamartomas of developmental malformations. In this article we present an extremely high-flow AVM of the lower jaw with exsanguinating bleeding from the socket of the exfoliated tooth. Repeated episodic bleedings were controlled with local pressure and packing. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a high-flow, high-shunt AVM. Preoperative embolization and external carotid artery ligation, dental extraction, curettage and packing with Gelfoam were done. Postoperative bleeding stopped, bruit ceased, and it had disappeared completely after 6 months follow-up. On the second follow-up visit, 3 months later, the patient was found to have no problems.