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Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences & Special Therapies (Pathology Section), University of Padova, Italy
b Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV-IRCSS), Padova, Italy
c Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
d Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Parma, Italy
e Department of Medicine & Therapeutics Institute of Medical Sciences, Aberdeen University, UK
f Department of Surgical, Morphological & Integrated Disciplines (Anatomic Pathology Section), University of Genova, Italy
g Department of Pathology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
h Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
i Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center & Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
j Department of Pathology Shiga University Medical Sciences, Shiga, Japan
k Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology And Infectious Diseases, Otto-Von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
l Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Healthcare Social Insurance Shiga Hospital, Shiga, Japan
m Division of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
n Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
o Department of Medicine Division of Digestive Diseases, UCLA Center for Health Sciences, USA
p Institute of Pathology Klinikum Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Received 1 February 2008; accepted 18 February 2008
Available online 17 April 2008
Abstract
Atrophic gastritis (resulting mainly from long-standing Helicobacter pylori infection) is a major risk factor for (intestinal-type) gastric
cancer development and the extent/topography of the atrophic changes significantly correlates with the degree of cancer risk.
The current format for histology reporting in cases of gastritis fails to establish an immediate link between gastritis phenotype and risk
of malignancy. The histology report consequently does not give clinical practitioners and gastroenterologists an explicit message of use in
orienting an individual patients clinical management.
Building on current knowledge of the biology of gastritis and incorporating experience gained worldwide by applying the Sydney System
for more than 15 years, an international group of pathologists (Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment) has proposed a system for reporting
gastritis in terms of stage (the OLGA staging system). Gastritis staging arranges the histological phenotypes of gastritis along a scale of
progressively increasing gastric cancer risk, from the lowest (stage 0) to the highest (stage IV).
This tutorial aims to provide unequivocal information on how to consistently apply the OLGA staging system in routine diagnostic histology
practice.
2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l.
Keywords: Atrophic gastritis; Gastritis staging; OLGA staging
1. Introduction
1590-8658/$30 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l.
doi:10.1016/j.dld.2008.02.030
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Fig. 1. Normal and atrophic glandular units in the stomach. 1: Normal mucosecreting gland. The glandular structure consists of mucosecreting cells (yellow
line). In this, as in all the other glandular structures, both the superficial layer and proliferative zone are represented as a pink line. 2: Non-metaplastic atrophy
in a mucosecreting gland: the number of glandular coils is decreased and the glands profile has become simpler (shrunk) and does not reach the bottom of
the mucosal layer. 3: Metaplastic atrophy (intestinal metaplasia): the glandular profile is simplified, looking like an intestinal crypt (intestinalized epithelia are
represented as bright blue line). 4: Normal oxyntic gland (green profile). 5: Non-metaplastic atrophy in an oxyntic gland: the glands profile is shorter (shrunk)
and the tubular structure does not reach the bottom of the mucosal layer. 6: Pseudopyloric metaplasia in oxyntic gland: the parietal and chief cells (green
line) are replaced by mucosecreting epithelia (yellow line, as in the antral glands). The intestinalization of a native oxyntic gland is similar to that shown for
mucosecreting glands (see 3).
mucosa (i.e. multifocal atrophic gastritis) frequently coexist with gastric ulcer, creating the most frequent setting for
gastric carcinoma [16,29,30].
Based on the assumption that a different extent and
topographical distribution of atrophy expresses a different
clinico-biological situation (associated with a different cancer risk), the Houston-updated Sydney System established
that multiple biopsy samples should be obtained to explore
the different mucosa compartments [13]. Different biopsy
locations have been suggested in the international literature
to map the mucosa, all of them consistent with the general assumption that both the oxyntic and the antral mucosa
have to be explored, and also considering the incisura
Table 1
Atrophy in the gastric mucosa: histological classification and grading
Atrophy
0 Absent (= score 0)
1 Indefinite (no score is applicable)
Histological type
2 Present
2.1 Non-metaplastic
2.2 Metaplastic
Grading
Corpus
Glands: shirking/vanishing
Lamina propria: fibrosis
Intestinal metaplasia
Pseudopyloric metaplasia
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angularis highly informative for the purpose of establishing the earliest onset of atrophicmetaplastic transformation
[24]. The OLGA proposal (basically consistent with the
Houston-updated biopsy protocol [13]) consists in recommending (at least) five biopsy samples from: (1) the greater
and lesser curvatures of the distal antrum (A1A2 = mucussecreting mucosa); (2) the lesser curvature at the incisura
angularis (A3), where the earliest atrophicmetaplastic
changes mostly occur; and (3) the anterior and posterior
walls of the proximal corpus (C1C2 = oxyntic mucosa)
(Fig. 2).
The information obtained enables to place patients at
approximate points along the path where chronic gastritis
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Fig. 4. All 5 biopsy samples (3 from the mucosecreting compartment and 2 from the oxyntic compartment) consist of normal glands. This figure shows a
normal gastric mucosa at both antral and corpus levels. Each strip (=1 biopsy sample) is labeled according to its site of origin (antral/angular = A, corpus = C)
and includes 10 glandular units. Any inflammation (lymphocytes, monocytes, plasmacytes, granulocytes) is disregarded. The percentages given on the left refer
to the percentage of atrophic glands at single biopsy level (in this VAS, the percentage of atrophy is 0 in all the available biopsies). The total (compartmental)
prevalence of atrophy is given on the right, distinguishing between antral and corpus compartments; the final compartment atrophy score is also shown. The
OLGA staging frame is provided in the bottom right-hand corner, where the OLGA-stage is reported (OLGA-stage 0).
Fig. 5. Scoring atrophy at each single antral/angular biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): A1 = 20%, A2 = 20% and A3 = 40%. Assessing
atrophy at compartment level (antrum): dividing 80 (=20 + 20 + 40) by 3 (the number of antral biopsies considered), the final prevalence of antral atrophy is 27%
(<30%), which means a score of 1. Scoring atrophy at each single corpus biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): C1 = 20%; C2 = 30%.
Assessing atrophy at compartment level (corpus): dividing 50 (=20 + 30) by 2 (the number of corpus biopsies considered), the final prevalence of corpus atrophy
is 25% (<30%), which means a score of 1. Combining the atrophy scores for the antrum (Antral atrophy score [Aas] = 1) and corpus (Corpus atrophy score
[Cas] = 1) gives us the OLGA stage, as shown in the reference chart (bottom right-hand corner: OLGA-stage I). H. pylori-status (as histologically assessed by
special stain) has to be reported.
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Fig. 6. Scoring atrophy at each single antral/angular biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): A1 = 20%; A2 = 30%; A3 = 70%. Assessing
atrophy at compartment level (antrum): dividing 120 (=20 + 30 + 70) by 3 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of antral atrophy is 40%
(>30% < 60%), which means a score of 2. Scoring atrophy at each single corpus biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): C1 = 30%;
C2 = 20%. Assessing atrophy at compartment level (corpus): dividing 50 (=30 + 20) by 2 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of corpus
atrophy is 25%(<30%), which means a score of 1. Combining the atrophy scores for the antrum (Aas = 2) and corpus (Cas = 1) gives us the OLGA stage, as
shown in the reference chart (bottom right-hand corner: OLGA-stage II). H. pylori-status (as histologically assessed by special stain) has to be reported.
Fig. 7. Scoring atrophy at each single antral/angular biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): A1 = 40%; A2 = 40%; A3 = 40%. Assessing
atrophy at compartment level (antrum): dividing 120 (=40 + 40 + 40) by 3 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of antral atrophy is 40%
(>30% < 60%), which means a score of 2. Scoring atrophy at each single corpus biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): C1 = 30%;
C2 = 60%. Assessing atrophy at compartment level (corpus): dividing 90 (=30 + 60) by 2 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of corpus
atrophy is 45% (>30% < 60%), which means a score of 2. Combining the atrophy scores for the antrum (Aas = 2) and corpus (Cas = 2) gives us the OLGA stage,
as shown in the reference chart (bottom right-hand corner: OLGA-stage III). H. pylori-status (as histologically assessed by special stain) has to be reported.
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Fig. 8. Scoring atrophy at each single antral/angular biopsy level (atrophic glands are always identified by a red marker): A1 = 0%; A2 = 0%; A3 = 40%.
Assessing atrophy at compartment level (antrum): dividing 40 (=0 + 0 + 40) by 3 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of antral atrophy
is 13% (<30%), which means a score of 1. Scoring atrophy at each single corpus biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): C1 = 90%;
C2 = 90%. Assessing atrophy at compartment level (corpus): dividing 180 (=90 + 90) by 2 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of corpus
atrophy is 90% (>60%), which means a score of 3. Combining the atrophy scores for the antrum (Aas = 1) and corpus (Cas = 3) gives us the OLGA stage, as
shown in the reference chart (bottom right-hand corner: OLGA-stage III). H. pylori-status (as histologically assessed by special stain) has to be reported. In
this case, the pattern of atrophic gastritis (corpus predominant atrophy) should suggest an autoimmune etiology.
Fig. 9. Scoring atrophy at each single antral/angular biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): A1 = 70%; A2 = 90%; A3 = 70%. Assessing
atrophy at compartment level (antrum): dividing 230 (=70 + 90 + 70) by 3 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of antral atrophy is 77%
(>60%), which means a score of 3. Scoring atrophy at each single corpus biopsy level (atrophic glands are identified by a red marker): C1 = 40%; C2 = 70%.
Assessing atrophy at compartment level (corpus): dividing 110 (=40 + 70) by 2 (the number of biopsies considered), the final prevalence of corpus atrophy is
55% (>30% < 60%), which means a score of 2. Combining the atrophy scores for the antrum (Aas = 3) and corpus (Cas = 2) gives us the OLGA stage, as shown
in the reference chart (bottom right-hand corner: OLGA-stage IV). H. pylori-status (as histologically assessed by special stain) has to be reported.
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inflammatory lesions. The VAS refer to non-atrophic (normal) mucosa and are given as a standard reference to enable
comparisons to be drawn with the pathological VAS.
6. Conclusions
Practice points
The histological assessment of atrophic
changes within gastric mucosa needs welldened criteria. VAS may help in the
consistent assessment of the different phenotypes of atrophic transformation.
VAS are illustrated to provide an operative
support in the histological staging of gastritis
(OLGA staging).
Research agenda
To validate the OLGA staging system for gastritis in different epidemiological contexts.
To correlate the different OLGA stages of
gastritis with serological markers of gastric
atrophy.
To validate preliminary information which
associates the OLGA stages III and IV to a high
risk of gastric epithelial malignancy.
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