Nodular gastritis: an endoscopic indicator of Helicobacter Pylori infection.

We prospectively assessed the relationship between nodular gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection. Of 1409 adults who underwent endoscopy for persistent dyspepsia between June 2004 and August 2005, 41 (2.9%) patients were diagnosed with nodular gastritis (11 [27%] men and 30 [73%] women). The mean age was 45.9 years. A control group of 65 patients without nodular gastritis was also evaluated. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in patients with nodular gastritis than in controls (38/41 [93%] vs. 33/65 [51%]). Of 21 patients treated to eradicate H. pylori, the nodular gastritis pattern resolved or improved in 16 patients on subsequent endoscopy. This study suggests that a nodular pattern of the gastric mucosa on endocscopy is a good indicator for H. pylori infection in adults, with the high positive predictive value of 92.7%.