Granulomatous gastritis due to taeniasis

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Etiological Factors of Granulomatous Gastritis

AIMS

To examine the clinicopathological characteristics of granulomatous gastritis (GG) among different etiologies, particularly Crohn disease (CD), and determine the contribution of H. pylori and the clinical significance of isolated GG.

METHODS/RESULTS

We identified 269 GG cases overall (0.19% prevalence): 220 had an underlying granulomatous disease (CD, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis) and only 8 of these (3.6%) had H. pylori, fewer than the 10.3% rate among non-GG biopsies (p<.001). Conversely, among 49 GG cases without known cause (foreign body, undetermined, idiopathic), 13 (26.5%) had H. pylori, more than background (p=.001). Most patients (n=185/68.8%) had CD and these were more likely male (p<.001), younger (p<.001), white (p<.001), and had single (p=.010), smaller (p=.005), antral (p=.027) granulomas, amid inflammation (p=.005), compared to non-CD GG cases; younger age was independently associated with CD (p=.003; OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.22). Among CD patients, younger age (p=.003; OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07) and upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (p=.017; OR=2.53, 95% CI: 1.18-5.43) were associated with new (vs. established) diagnosis, whereas multiple gastric granulomas (p=.003; OR=4.67, 95% CI: 1.67-13.04) and lack of upper GI symptoms (p<.001; OR=6.75, 95% CI: 2.94-15.49) were associated with lower GI granulomas. Of 86 isolated GG cases (i.e., no prior diagnosis or lower GI granulomas), 51 (59.3%) were eventually diagnosed with CD, and this was independently associated with younger age (p=.014; OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21) and upper GI symptoms (p=.033; OR=19.27, 95% CI: 1.27-293.31). The positive predictive value of finding isolated GG towards a CD diagnosis in patients <30 years-old was 91%, increasing in males (93%), with single (94%), antral (97%) granulomas, or upper GI symptoms (94%).

CONCLUSIONS

GG does not correlate with H. pylori in patients with granulomatous disease, but may be associated with the organism when such diagnosis is lacking. In CD patients with GG, younger age and upper GI symptoms are associated with a new CD diagnosis, whereas multiple gastric granulomas and lack of upper GI symptoms correlate with lower GI granulomas. GG, including in isolated cases with no prior clinical history or granuloma, likely signifies CD, particularly in younger, male patients, or those with single, antral granulomas, or upper GI symptoms.

Taeniasis: An Unusual Presentation

We report a case of 45-year-old male presenting with the history of nasal expulsion of segments of Taenia saginata. This route of expulsion is a rare occurrence. The report stresses this unusual presentation of taeniasis in endemic region.

Pathology of non-Helicobacter pylori gastritis: extending the histopathologic horizons

The development of modern endoscopic techniques, easier and greater access to healthcare, and interest in Helicobacter pylori infection and its implications have all led to a significant increase in upper endoscopies. In turn, gastroenterologists and pathologists have been recognizing an ever-increasing number of patterns of mucosal injury. Consequently, there is now an interest in a wider aspect of non-neoplastic gastric pathology, namely, non-HP (H. pylori) gastritis. In this review, we present major clinico-pathological entities, based on either the salient morphological features or the underlying etiologies.

Pathology of non-infective gastritis

The discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its intimate role in the development of the most common form of chronic gastritis has elicited a much-needed interest in non-neoplastic gastric pathology. This has been paralleled by an increase in upper endoscopic examinations, which allow recognition of novel patterns and distribution of mucosal injury. Numerous attempts at classification have been made, most based on the acuteness or chronicity of gastric mucosal injury. In this review, we will not offer a new classification but present a detailed description of the major clinicopathological entities, based either on the salient morphological features or the underlying aetiologies, i.e. iatrogenic, autoimmune, vascular or idiopathic.

The spectrum of gastric disease associated with Helicobacter pylori and other infectious gastritides

Helicobacter pylori is the most frequent infection of the stomach worldwide. Some of the people infected with H. pylori develop symptoms of dyspepsia that correlate with pathologic evidence of gastritis and peptic ulcers. In addition, H. pylori has been associated with preneoplastic lesions and with two neoplasias: intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Rarely, gastric pathology can also be caused by other infectious agents, including fungi, other bacteria, parasites, and viruses. This review describes H. pylori-associated pathology and pathologies related to other infectious agents.