What is the difference between chronic atrophic gastritis and superficial gastritis?

The main difference between chronic atrophic gastritis and superficial gastritis is that the pathological changes of gastric mucosa are different, including changes in gastric mucosal glands, inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, epithelial dysplasia, etc. 1. Changes in gastric mucosal glands Chronic atrophic gastritis has atrophy, reduction or even disappearance of gastric mucosal glands, resulting in thinning of gastric mucosa; The superficial gastritis gastric mucosa glands basically normal, no obvious atrophy phenomenon. This is one of the more significant differences between the two. Gland atrophy makes the secretion function of the stomach affected, may lead to decreased secretion of gastric acid, pepsin, etc. 2. Inflammation manifestations Chronic atrophic gastritis inflammation is mostly chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, the degree is relatively light; 3. Intestinal metaplasia Chronic atrophic gastritis is often accompanied by intestinal metaplasia, that is, gastric mucosa epithelium is replaced by intestinal epithelium; while superficial gastritis generally has less intestinal metaplasia. Intestinal metaplasia is regarded as an important risk factor for gastric cancer and needs close attention and monitoring.4. Epithelial dysplasia Chronic atrophic gastritis is more prone to epithelial dysplasia, especially in severe cases; superficial gastritis has a relatively low incidence of epithelial dysplasia. Atypical hyperplasia means abnormal changes in cell morphology and structure, which may develop into malignant lesions if further developed.