intestinal metaplasia

[Idas]

I had an endoscopy and the diagnosis was chronic superfical gastritis, very mild and patchy, inactive,involving pyloric mucosa with intestinal metaplasia - negative for Helicobacter/pyloric. Does anyone know if this condition is reversible? Are there any procedures to remove the metaplasia? Can it disappear? I am very concerned since my sister died of stomach cancer.  Am I suppose to wait until it turns into cancer before I can do something?  Does it always turn into cancer?

[Idas]

Thanks for your help.

[PA_S]

I don't believe, to my knowledge anyways, that metaplastic tissue changes can be reversed.

There is a procedure called metaplastic tissue ablation in which the physician uses an endoscope and radio frequency to destroy the metaplastic tissue in your stomach and/or esophagus. There may be other procedures, but I'm not terribly familiar with them at this point in my training. Also, there is a last resort procedure; removal of the stomach. Yes, you can live without your stomach.

Don't worry yourself too much right now. Try not to let this stress you out. There are procedures available to help you. It's a good thing they caught your metaplasia before it became something more serious.

[Idas]

I just had a blood test which was normal.  Thursday I go for a cat scan.  My sister died at the age of 48.  I am 61.  I just don't know my options.  It does not seem that there is a way to treat this, just wait until there is a change for the worse.  PPI's do not work for me.

[CalGal]

You may want to read through the following: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1773527/

[PA_S]

How are you being treated now?

How old was your sister when she died of stomach cancer? How old are you?