Gastric polyps and precancerous mucosal changes after partial gastrectomy.

Gastric polyps are considered to be rare. However, at endoscopy the prevalence of gastric polyps after partial gastrectomy was found to be 8.9% (30/336 patients) compared with 4.9% (20/407) in a clinical control material with a comparable age and sex distribution. Four patients with precancerous mucosal alterations were found in the operated group. Repeated endoscopic check-ups have at present been performed in 57.4% of these patients. In our experience the diagnostic accuracy with regard to malignancy is not entirely satisfactory. Histological examination of the surgical specimen from one of the 4 patients with precancerous changes showed a macroscopically invisible early carcinoma. Follow-up examinations (within 4 years) have in 5 out of 26 cases with sessile polyps disclosed carcinoma in 3 cases and precancerous changes or adenoma in another 2 cases. Careful re-examination of all patients with precancerous changes and gastric polyps is recommended.