Pathophysiology and Epidemiology of Intestinal Metaplasia

Kim, Joon Sung; Kim, Byung Wook

doi:2013.13.2.73

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 13(2); 2013 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2013;13(2):73-77.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2013.13.2.73 Published online June 10, 2013.

Pathophysiology and Epidemiology of Intestinal Metaplasia

Joon Sung Kim, Byung Wook Kim

Division of Gastroenterology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. gastro@catholic.ac.kr

장상피화생의 병태생리와 역학

김준성, 김병욱

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 인천성모병원 소화기내과

Abstract

The mortality from gastric cancer still remains high in Korea and an appropriate intervention protocol to prevent gastric cancer is warranted. Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is generally regarded as a pre-malignant lesion and has been studied extensively in the human stomach. However the pathogenesis of IM and the relationship between IM and gastric cancer is still unknown. This review discusses the pathogenesis and epidemiology of IM. Improved understandings of the pathogenesis of IM should provide new targets for prevention and therapy.

Key Words: Intestinal metaplasia; Pathogenesis; Epidemiology