Gastric lipid islands in the gastric stump and in non-operated stomach.

The lipid islands in the gastric mucosa are small, well delimited white or yellowish-white patches varying in diameter from 0.5 to 3 millimeters. Microscopically they constitute accumulations of macrophages full of lipids. This endoscopic and histological finding was observed in 0.38% of patients who had not undergone gastric resection, and in 18.0% of those who had the intervention, the basis being a case-list of 1381 endoscopic examinations of the upper digestive tract. The endoscopic and histological aspects and the clinical correlations of the gastric lipid islands are discussed, emphasizing the importance of biliary reflux as an etiological factor. The presence of gastric lipid islands must be considered as the expression of a prolonged inflammatory process of the gastric mucosa.