Spontaneous Disappearance Of Fundic Gland Polyposis: Report Of Three Cases

Abstract

The natural history of the multifocal gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cell carcinoid tumours associated with achlorhydria secondary to autoimmune atrophic gastritis is unknown. In two patients with this combination, who have remained untreated but have been monitored endoscopically for some years, many of the tumours have spontaneously disappeared. A precise explanation of the ECL cell hyperplasia which causes these ECL cell gastric carcinoid polyps to appear will probably have to await discovery of the functions of these cells and of their secretory product. The findings of these two patients suggest that in many multifocal ECL cell carcinoid tumours associated with achlorhydria and autoimmune atrophic gastritis may run a benign course which can end with the spontaneous regression of the tumors.