Gastric fundic gland polyps (Elster's polyps) and Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis.

In a series of 555 gastric polyps characteristic Elster's polyps were identified in 31 cases. Spiral bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) in these polyps were sporadic, much less frequent (9.7%) than in hyperplastic polyps (35%) in the present series and in relation to the bacteria frequency found in our randomly chosen gastric biopsy specimens (43%). The present results indicate that Elster's polyps are not readily colonized by Helicobacter pylori and accordingly, they do not show the signs of active gastritis. The reasons for this are unknown. One of the mechanisms preventing from bacterial colonization may be a different from normal gastric mucosa and other polyps character of mucus produced by glandular neck cells, which was found in our series of gastric fundic gland polyps.