Hyperplasia of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells as a precursor of neuroendocrine gastric tumors in autoimmune gastritis

Abstract

The purpose of this publication is to update knowledge about chronic autoimmune gastritis and about cases of hyperplasia of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells as precursors of the development of neuroendocrine gastric tumor type 1 due to clinical example’s demonstration. Discussion: the types and main characteristics of neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach were discussed, in particular tumors type 1 associated with autoimmune gastritis. The mechanisms of formation of neuroendocrine tumors in the stomach against the background of an autoimmune process were presented, two clinical examples presenting the algorithm of diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis and associated neuroendocrine tumors were presented. Both clinical examples demonstrated the presence of subepithelial formations of the stomach body according to FGDS, which have not been morphologically identified. Timely repeated FGDS with sampling of biopsies according to the OLGA standard made it possible to verify the formations, and the serological markers helped in clarifying the diagnosis and morphological nature of tumors. Conclusion: analysis of clinical data, anamnesis and esophagoduodenoscopy with morphological evaluation of the gastric mucosa biopsy may help to find out the cause and nature of chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Atrophy of the glands in the stomach body, pseudopiloric metaplasia, hyperplasia of enterochromaffin (ECL) cells are sufficient morphological criteria for autoimmune gastritis. The study of the level of chromogranin A in blood serum can be considered as a marker of the development of type 1 neuroendocrine gastric tumor in patients with autoimmune gastritis and the presence of polyps in the stomach body.