Heterotopic gastric glands in the submucosa of the stomach.

The submucosal heterotopic gastric glands were found in 160 cases (10.7%) of 1500 resected stomachs; 15% in gastric ulcer, 9.9% in gastric carcinoma, 4% in duodenal ulcer and 11% in chronic gastritis. The heterotopic glands were usually found in the distal half of the stomach, diffusely or localized. Macroscopic submucosal tumor was found in 9 (5%) of 160 cases. Although the heterotopic glands were found with an intimate relation to the repeated mucosal damage and subsequent intestinal metaplasia, they had no specific relation to gastric carcinogenesis.