Intestinal Metaplasia
Intestinal Metaplasia (IM)
When cells in the stomach transform into intestinal cells this is called metaplasia and can be a precursor to cancer. Intestinal metaplasia tends to occur due to chronic inflammation and is associated with Helicobacter Pylori infection, autoimmune gastritis, smoking and certain ethnic backgrounds. IM is associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer, although the absolute risk remains low. Patients with clinically significant IM need monitoring with gastroscopy every 1-3 years.
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