Gastritis cystica profunda.

Fourteen cases of gastritis cystica polyposa, four gastric adenomas and 25 "mature" erosions removed by diathermy at endoscopy were studied by light microscopy. Twenty surgical resections from gastric cancer patients and 18 gastric resections from gastroenterostomy patients previously operated upon for benign lesions were also studied. The mucosa showed consistent changes which were grouped as "gastritis cystica superficialis". Most surgical specimens, three out of 25 "mature" erosions, the four adenomas, and eight cases of gastritis cystica polyposa showed cystic gastric glands within the submucosa closely resembling the changes seen in colitis cystica profunda. Thus the term "gastritis cystica profunda" is proposed. It is suggested that ischaemia and chronic inflammation as well as the effects of surgery and presence of suture material have a role in the pathogenesis of gastritis cystica profunda. A correlation seems to exist between gastritis cystica profunda and gastric ulcer.