Intestinal metaplasia
Intestinal Metaplasia
Intestinal metaplasia (pronounced: in-tes-ti-nal met-a-pla-sia) is a medical condition where the cells lining the stomach or esophagus transform into cells that are similar to the cells lining the intestines. This condition is often associated with a higher risk of developing gastric cancer.
Etymology
The term "intestinal metaplasia" is derived from the Greek words "meta" (change) and "plasis" (formation), indicating a change in the formation of the cells. "Intestinal" refers to the type of cells that the original cells transform into.
Causes
Intestinal metaplasia is often caused by chronic inflammation of the stomach, known as gastritis, or by a bacterial infection with Helicobacter pylori. Other potential causes include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of intestinal metaplasia may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. However, many people with this condition do not experience any symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia typically involves an endoscopy to examine the lining of the stomach or esophagus, followed by a biopsy to examine the cells under a microscope.
Treatment
Treatment for intestinal metaplasia often involves managing the underlying cause of the condition, such as treating a Helicobacter pylori infection or managing GERD. Regular monitoring is also important to detect any changes that may indicate the development of gastric cancer.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Intestinal metaplasia
- Wikipedia's article - Intestinal metaplasia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski