Summary
The endoscopic atrophic border is a boundary between the pyloric and fundic gland
territories, which is endoscopically recognized by discriminating differences in color
and height of the gastric mucosa. The existence of superficial gastritis might exaggerate
the color and niveau differences, thus making it much easier to recognize the atrophic
border. And also, according to the results of precise biopsy taken perpendicularly
across the endoscopic atrophic border, it might be the boundary of histological atrophy
and non-atrophy. In other words, the endoscopic atrophic border might be the boundary
both of gland type and of atrophy. As a supplemental approach, a selective application
of congo red method was endoscopically performed, which suggests that this might be
a physiological border as well. Additionally, a classification of the atrophic pattern
was attempted according to the location of the endoscopic atrophic border in the stomach,
which revealed a close relationship with gastric analysis.
Key-Words
Atrophic border - pyloric and fundic gland area - congo red method - endoscopic biopsy
- gastric analysis
1 Research fellow. The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Tokyo University, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
2 Professor, The Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Kawadacho,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
