Histopathological evaluation of H. Pylori associated gastric lesions in Benin city, Nigeria

Background: Endoscopic biopsy of the gastric mucosa allows early diagnosis, grading, staging and classification of gastric diseases. Helicobacter pylori, has been recognized as a major aetiologic factor for chronic gastritis, benign gastric ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. The loco-regional variability in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and associated diseases in Nigeria, emphasise the need for evaluation of subsets of a heterogeneous population like oursObjective: To determine the frequency of helicobacter pylori in gastric endoscopic biopsies and document the pathology of gastric lesions commonly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.Design: Retrospective descriptive study.Settings: University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and Biogenics Histopathology Laboratory (a private Histopathology Laboratory), both based in Benin City, Niger Delta region of Nigeria.Subjects: Endoscopic gastric biopsies recorded in the surgical pathology register of the department from 2005-2009 were studied and relevant demographic and clinical information extracted from the registers, original request cards and patient case files. The clinical data and slides processed from paraffin embedded tissue blocks of endoscopic biopsies of gastric lesions seen from year 2005 to 2009 were studied, analyzed and statistically presented.Results: Total number of specimens studied was 142. Chronic gastritis was present in 117(82.39%) specimens; 9(6.34%) were benign gastric ulcers; 3(2.11%) were gastric polyps; and 11(7.75%) were gastric malignancies. Helicobacter pylori, was demonstrated in 55.6% of all specimens. The peak age for Chronic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer is the 6th decade. Amongst patients with chronic gastritis, inflammatory activity was present in 65%; atrophy in 53%; and intestinal metaplasia in 16.6%. All gastric malignancies seen were intestinal type adenocarcinomas.Conclusion: The spectrum of lesions diagnosed in gastric endoscopic biopsy specimens in Benin, their frequency and associations are largely comparable to what has been described elsewhere in Nigeria and Africa.Key words: Helicobacter Pylori; Gastric lesions; Endoscopic biopsies