Linked color imaging-based endoscopic grading of gastric intestinal metaplasia and histological gastritis staging in the assessment of gastric cancer risk

Objective To evaluate the value and compare the effectiveness of linked color imaging-based endoscopic grading of gastric intestinal metaplasia (LCI-EGGIM) and operative link on gastric intestinal metaplasia (OLGIM) in risk stratification of early gastric cancer (EGC). Methods Eighty-one patients with EGC who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection were included. The general data and EGC-related risk factors of all participants were recorded. LCI-EGGIM and OLGIM were used for both groups. Results The number of patients with LCI-EGGIM score >= 5 was significantly higher in the EGC group than in the control group (58.02% vs. 12.35%, p < .001). Furthermore, the number of patients with OLGIM stage III/IV in the EGC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (56.79% vs. 7.41%, p < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that OLGIM stage III/IV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 29.74, 95% CI: 7.49-117.94) and LCI-EGGIM score >= 5 (AOR: 12.33, 95% CI: 3.71-41.02) were significantly associated with EGC. There was no significant difference in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve between LCI-EGGIM and OLGIM in predicting the risk of EGC (0.74 vs. 0.77, p = .1116). Conclusion OLGIM and LCI-EGGIM can be used and have the same value for predicting the risk stratification of EGC in patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia.