Fundic gland polyps is more common in patients with relative healthy gastric mucosa

Proton pump inhibitors are not associated with fundic gland polyps - a systematic review that takes into consideration all known confounders

Sporadic fundic gland polyps (FGPs) progress, albeit rarely, to dysplasia and cancer. Two meta-analyses, including 8 and 11 studies, concluded that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were associated with FGPs. Intervention is considered unnecessary when FGPs have a background of PPIs use. Both meta-analyses, however, disregarded known confounders: age, sex, endoscopy indications, study design (prospective or retrospective), duration of PPI use, and H. pylori infection. Confounders are known to invalidate meta-analyses. We followed PRIXMA guidelines and searched the literature for studies on FGPs in PPI-users and PPI-nonusers. In the 22 studies searched, we compared FGPs in PPI-users (n = 6534) and PPI-nonusers (n = 41 115). Heterogeneity was significant (Cochran Q = 277.8, P < 0.0001; I2 = 92.8%), annulling meta-analysis performed by blanket tallying. To offset the above confounders, we matched PPI-users and PPI-nonusers by (a) age and sex (n = 4300 and 29 307, respectively) and (b) their propensity scores derived from the confounders (n = 2950 and 4729, respectively). After both matching, FGPs were not significantly different between PPI-users and PPI-nonusers [odds ratio (OR) = 1.1, P = 0.3078; OR = 0.9, P = 0.3258, respectively]. Furthermore, FGP frequency did not correlate with increasing duration of PPI use (Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients = 0.1162, 0.0386, P < 0.6064, 0.8646, respectively); it was not significantly different between any of the duration periods of observation, namely, <10, 10-20, 20-40, >40 months, nor was it significantly different between PPI-users and PPI-nonusers within each duration period (P > 0.05). We conclude that PPIs are not associated with FGPs, implying that a background history of PPI use is not a justification for nonintervention in the management of FGPs.

Clinicopathologic Correlation of Large Gastric Polyps in an Elderly Female: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Fundic gland polyps (FGPs) are benign epithelial polyps usually located in the gastric body and fundus. Here, we describe the case of an elderly woman who presented with symptomatic anemia, abdominal pain, and weight loss. There was also history of chronic use of proton pump inhibitors for the symptomatic treatment of dyspepsia. Reflux esophagitis, duodenal ulcers, and multiple gastric polyps suspicious of malignancy were found at endoscopy. A large pedunculated antral polyp measuring more than 10mm in the largest dimension and other smaller polyps in the body and fundus were removed completely by cold snare and sent for histopathologic evaluation. The polyps were eventually diagnosed as benign fundic gland polyps. Biopsies taken from the gastric mucosa also showed Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was commenced with the resultant resolution of symptoms. No surveillance is required for FGPs because they are not premalignant lesions. However, large FGPs require excision and thorough histopathologic evaluation to rule out atypia and malignancy. This index case further highlights a possible causal link between the chronic use of proton pump inhibitors and the development of fundic gland polyps.