Carcinoma and Intestinal Metaplasia of the Stomach in Colombian Migrants

Summary

An epidemiologic study of gastric cancer is reported, based on data from the cancer registry of Cali, Colombia (1962–66) and on studies of material collected in the organ bank in Cali. Incidence rates for different histologic types of carcinoma were correlated with prevalence of intestinal metaplasia in natives of Cali and in the main immigrant groups. A positive correlation was found, most marked for the histologic type usually called “intestinal.” Risks for gastric carcinoma in each immigrant group reflected the levels found in the original area, as reported previously for other groups in international migration studies. Prevalence of intestinal metaplasia showed the same pattern and therefore could be used as an indicator of gastric cancer risk. The possible premalignant role of intestinal metaplasia of the stomach is discussed in the light of pathologic and epidemiologic data.