The link between Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with gastric malignancy, but only 1% of those infected develop cancer. Reduction in the rate of gastric cancer in the developed world parallels the decrease in H pylori infection during childhood. However, gastric cancer remains a common cause of death in areas of the world where childhood infection with H pylori is the rule. The early stages of gastric lymphoma may be responsive to antibiotic treatment. However, caution must be exercised in providing these patients with careful endoscopic and histologic follow-up to rule out high-grade lymphoma transformation.