Malignancy and Chronic Inflammation in the Gastrointestinal Tract - New Concepts

Despite recent advances, the pathogenesis and therapy of various forms of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract remains problematical. Especially threatening is the possible complication of the development of a malignant growth, but the role of the chronic inflammatory process in this is not known. Three examples are: H. pylori-induced gastritis is associated with gastric lymphomas and carcinomas; there is an increased incidence of intestinal T-cell lymphomas in tropical sprue; and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, particularly ulcerative colitis, are associated with an increased incidence of carcinoma. This work contains the Proceedings of Falk Symposium No. 81, held in Berlin, November 3-5, 1994, an extensive exchange of information and opinions between international experts which discussed a state-of-the-art consensus on practical procedures in diagnostics, prophylaxis and therapy.