Gastric glandular cysts--investigations into their genesis and relationship to colorectal epithelial tumors.

One thousand five hundred cases presenting with glandular cysts of the gastric mucosa (Elster's polyps) (64.2 per cent women, 38.8 men) were investigated. The average age of 57.1 +/- 14.5 years militates against the possibility of these polyps being Hamartomas. In 41 out of 100 cases submitted to follow-up gastroscopies, these Elster's polyps were either reduced in number and sitze, or else had newly formed in previously unremarkable mucosa--which is further argument against the hamartoma hypothesis and in favour of a functional-secretory genesis. The results of 596 cases submitted to examinations of colorectal epithelial tumours (24.8 per cent in the overall group, and 35.6 per cent in those patients submitted to examination of the entire colon by means of colonoscopy and/or colon contrast enema). In 21 patients with adenomatosis coli (including 11 patients with Gardner's syndrome), in addition to Elster's polyps, a higher incidence of adenomas in the upper gastrointestinal tract was also observed (57.1%), in 5 cases taking the form of initial tubular adenomas in the apex of Elster's polyps. After surgical treatment, some of the patients (28.6%) revealed a reduction in the number of polyps in the stomach. On the basis to these results, a thorough diagnostic work-up of the colon in patients with Elster's polyps is recommended.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)