Xanthomas and precancerous changes of the stomach: an accidental combination or an important prognostic endoscopic marker?

Abstract

Background. The article deals with the study of gastric xanthomas, benign accidental formations with an unknown etiopathogenesis, which, according to the literature, are associated with a number of pathological conditions (atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, gastric cancer, dyslipidemia, etc.). The purpose was to study the prevalence of gastric xanthomas in patients with atrophic gastritis and to analyze their relationship with endoscopic changes in the stomach, including precancerous conditions. Materials and methods. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed using the EVIS EXERA III video endoscopy system with the Olympus 190 gastroscope (Japan) in 120 patients with atrophic gastritis undergoing examination and treatment at the Institute of Gastroenterology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The presence of duodenogastric reflux, the prevalence and severity of mucosal atrophy, changes in the relief of the gastric mucosa (including nodules and bumps), the presence of hyperplasia, polyps, hemorrhages, erosions, ulcers, xanthomas in the stomach were assessed. When using the narrow-band imaging and close focus, the presence and prevalence of intestinal metaplasia, the presence of gastric dysplasia were evaluated. Comparative and statistical analysis of endoscopic data was conducted depending on the presence of gastric xanthomas. Results. The heterogeneity of endoscopic changes in atrophic gastritis was revealed (prevalence and severity of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, changes in the mucosal relief, presence of hyperplasia, polyps, ulcers, etc.). Gastric xanthomas were found in more than a third of patients with atrophic gastritis (36.7 % of cases), with predominant localization in the antral region (90.9 %). As a rule (95.5 %), they were single. In patients with atrophic gastritis associated with xanthomas, diffuse atrophic changes in gastric mucosa were detected significantly more often, as well as mucosal nodules and bumps, mucosal hyperplasia, intestinal metaplasia and the mucosal dysplasia, which was confirmed morphologically (p < 0.05). Rare cases of gastric ulcers and gastric cancer were diagnosed only in patients with xanthomas (p > 0.05). Conclusions. The obtained results indicate that gastric xanthoma is an important diagnostic marker of precancerous changes in the gastric mucosa: widespread atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and can be used as an important prognostic marker for the development of gastric cancer. Patients with xanthoma-associated atrophic gastritis require a thorough examination using modern endoscopic equipment and dynamic observation, with a focus on changes in the gastric relief by the type of nodules and bumps.