Endoscopic diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia in asymptomatic (control) volunteers.

The F-P border and strain phenomenon of the gastric mucosa were investigated by the application of methylene blue dye spraying method in endoscopy to 105 asymptomatic control volunteers and the following results were obtained; 1. The pyloric metaplasia is observed in the fundic gland area from the twenties in age and becomes increasing in its number and move widely spreading from the lesser curvature to the anterior and/or posterior wall of the corpus with advancing age. 2. The intestinal metaplasia arises from the thirties in age. 3. The intestinal metaplasia is observed either in the pyloric gland area of following the pyloric metaplasis in the fundic gland area. 4. Histologically, the strain phenomenon of the gastric mucosa is closely related to the intestinal metaplasia. Then, methylene blue dye spraying method is reevaluated to be useful for a precise endoscopic diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia.