Lymphocytic gastritis: a newly described entity: a retrospective endoscopic and histological study.

Lymphocytic gastritis is a histopathological entity characterised by the accumulation of small lymphocytes in the surface and foveolar epithelium. In order to investigate the correlation between endoscopy and histology in this condition, 192 observations selected on the basis of a presumed diagnosis of erosive or varioliform gastritis were reviewed. Ninety two instances corresponded to lymphocytic gastritis, while 100 did not show any particular microscopic feature and were labelled non-specific gastritis. There was a good correlation (48 of 58) between the diagnosis of the so-called varioliform gastritis and the histological evidence of lymphocytic gastritis. The correlation was even better when nodules, erosions, and enlarged folds were considered. Lymphocytic gastritis has a typical endoscopical appearance consisting of nodules, erosions, and large folds predominating in the gastric body. This contrasts with non-specific gastritis, which affects the antrum and produces erosions on a flat mucosa.