Histological features and recurrence of completely and incompletely healed gastric ulcers classified by the methylene blue dye method.

Histological features and recurrence of gastric ulcers classified as completely or incompletely healed by the methylene blue dye method were investigated. On chromo-endoscopic examination, complete healing was defined as a scarred area completely covered with granular patterns, while incomplete healing was defined as a scarred area surrounded only marginally by granular patterns. The methylene blue dye method was significantly more accurate than routine endoscopy for determining the histological completeness of healing. Recurrences were significantly more frequent in incompletely healed ulcers classified by the dye method than in completely healed ulcers. Heavy smoking, male sex, and location of ulcers were closely related to recurrence. Therapy should be continued until the healed ulcers are wholly covered by granular patterns, and physicians should encourage their patients to stop smoking.