Gastritis and Gastric Ulcers

Abstract

One of the most common findings on upper endoscopy of the stomach is gastritis. However, there is no universally accepted classification of gastritis although several classification schemes of gastritis have been suggested. Gastritis has been classified in accordance with histologic features, time course (acute versus chronic), etiology, and proposed pathophysiology. Gastric ulcers can be caused by a variety of factors and have various shapes. Moreover, the appearance of gastric ulcers can change over time. The clinical course of gastric ulcers is more dynamic than that of gastritis and is sometimes associated with complications such as bleeding and perforation. The most important factor to consider when diagnosing a gastric ulcer is differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ulcers by careful endoscopic examination and forceps biopsy.