Chronic erosive (verrucous) gastritis. A study of 108 patients.

Chronic erosive gastritis (C.E.G.) is a gastric mucosal lesionwith characteristic radiological and endoscopic appearances. Pyloric gland hyperplasia is seen on histological examination of biopsy specimens. C.E.G. is uncommonly reported in the English literature. In reviewing 3,800 upper gastro-intestinal endoscopies from 1971--1976, 108 patients were diagnosed as having typical features of chronic erosive gastritis, an incidence of 2.8%. There was a significant association with duodenal ulceration and an overall male predominance. The lesion can also co-exist with gastric ulceration and has been observed as an incidental finding in patients examined urgently for upper gastro-intestinal bleeding. In this context C.E.G. should be distinguished from acute mucosal erosions. Symptoms may relate to the accompanying peptic ulceration, although dyspepsia epigastric pain, fullness and nausea may possibly occur with C.E.G. alone.