Atrophic gastritis after Billroth I gastrectomy.

The gastric mucosa of a stomach resected according to Billroth I operation is subject to a process of aging twice as intense as that of a non-resected one. Atrophy after Billroth I gastrectomy increased by 3% on an average per annum. As a result, a typical distribution of degrees of inflammation in the region of the greater curvature became evident. Atrophic gastritis occurres especially near the anastomosis and decreases in the direction of the fornix. The possibility is discussed that resected patients--in contrast to non-resected--are afflicted with stomach cancer primarily on account of the more intense and earlier mucosal atrophy.