These changes are not normal and increase the risk of cancer.
Symptoms of Intestinal Metaplasia
Most people do not experience noticeable effects of intestinal metaplasia.
In fact, the condition is not typically associated with any symptoms.
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However, even for people who have intestinal metaplasia, these symptoms can occur for other reasons.
Complications
Intestinal metaplasia may be precancerous.
When left untreated, the abnormal cells in the stomach or esophagus can undergo a change referred to asdysplasia.
Causes
It is not known why some people develop intestinal metaplasia.
pyloriinfection is commonly thought of as the primary underlying culprit.
Each of these two conditions can involveH.
pylori, and they can each lead to gastric (stomach) cancer.
But they can also occur completely separately.
What Is H. Pylori?
H. pyloribacteria are known to attack the lining of the stomach.
According to a study published in the journalGastroenterology, over 50% of people worldwide may have anH.
pyloriinfection.This infection usually occurs during childhood and is a very common cause ofpeptic (stomach) ulcer disease.
In fact, a 2019 study in Africa of people withH.
pyloriinfection.In the same study, 38.6% of those with intestinal metaplasia were also diagnosed withH.
Another study performed in China involved over 1,600 healthy participants (at an average age of 42) withH.
Nearly a third of the participants (29.3%) were found to have intestinal metaplasia.
Aside from the presence of anH.
Diagnosis
In many cases, intestinal metaplasia is diagnosed incidentally during an evaluation for other digestive problems.
to make a diagnosis, a biopsy may be taken during the endoscopy.
This involves removing a small sample of tissue for laboratory examination.
A biopsy is often taken during an endoscopy.
The tissue sampled during a biopsy is examined with a microscope, and it may also be tested forH.
The biopsied cells may show characteristics of goblet cells, inflammation, dysplasia, or cancer.
The presence of goblet cells confirms the diagnosis.
Goblet cells are large, round, and hollow.
They are not found in the stomach or esophagus unless intestinal metaplasia is present.
You will need regular follow up to determine whether the condition is well controlled or whether it’s progressing.
Monitoring your condition may include imaging tests, endoscopy, biopsy, or a stool test forH.
In addition, the study noted that intestinal metaplasia increases the risk of stomach cancer six-fold.
Therefore, it’s important to treat intestinal metaplasia to get to prevent a progression to stomach cancer.
However, your healthcare provider may recommend a change of diet to lower the acid level in the stomach.
Dietary changes thought to treat intestinal metaplasiawhile possibly helping to lower the growth ofH.
pyloribacteria may help reduce the risk of intestinal metaplasia.
If a person with intestinal metaplasia tests positive forH.
pylori, antibiotics are the treatment of choice to clear up the infection.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to note thatH.
pyloriare a very common jot down of bacteria that grows in the digestive tract.
Guidelines that help keepH.
pyloriin check may benefit people with intestinal metaplasia.
Incomplete and complete intestinal metaplasia are two types that describe the cells in the stomach.
With complete intestinal metaplasia, cells in your stomach look like those in the small intestine.
Incomplete intestinal metaplasia has cells that look like the cells from your colon.
According to researchers, the annual incidence of stomach cancer is 0.25% for patients with intestinal metaplasia.
The rate of cancer after 10 years of follow-up is 1.8%.
No, these are not the same.
These conditions have overlapping causes and complications, and they can occur together.
Gastritis often causes symptoms of stomach upset or discomfort.
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