Duygu Demirtaş Güner, Serap Doğan
Eurasian Journal of Medical Investigation - 2025;9(3):172-175
Objectives: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a major risk factor for gastric cancer and is associated with gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of HP gastritis and GIM in children in Eastern Anatolia, a region with high gastric cancer incidence. Methods: This retrospective study included children (<18 years) who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with gastric biopsies at Van Training and Research Hospital between September 2021 and January 2023. Histopathological reevaluation was performed for HP infection and GIM. Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic features were recorded. Results: A total of 246 patients were included (median age 14.2 years, 67.5% female). HP gastritis was found in 47.2% (n=116), with 7.8% (n=9) detected only in corpus biopsies. HP-positive patients were older than negatives (15.2 vs. 12.9 years, p=0.001). Antral nodularity was strongly associated with HP (p<0.001). GIM was identified in 3.7% (n=9), 66.7% were HP positive. GIM was complete in 6 and incomplete in 3 cases; 1 (11.1%) showed only corpus involvement. Conclusion: HP gastritis and GIM are notable in children in this high-risk region. Corpus biopsies prevented missed diagnoses in 7.8% of HP and 11.1% of GIM cases, highlighting their importance. Older children with antral nodularity require evaluation
