STUDY OF THE HEALING PROCESS OF GASTRIC ULCER BY THE DISSECTING MICROSCOPE

Abstract

Gastric ulcer was studied by the dissecting microscope in 23 resected stomachs. The healing process of gastric ulcer was divided into the following 3 stages : acute, healing and scarring (Table 2). In the acute stage, pallor of the marginal mucosa and irregularity in the size and shape of the "papillae", which, by our definition, indicate the architectural units of the gastric area, were observed (Figures 2 to 6). There were two phases in the healing stage. In the early healing stage, a membranous structure with parallel capillaries was seen to grow from the marginal papillae towards the ulcer base. We called it "palisade structure" (Figures 7 and 8). This is supposed to be the beginning of healing. In the late healing stage, regenerative papillae appeared following the growth of the palisade structure. The regenerative papillae were red, spindle-shaped and arranged in radiating directions (Figures 9 to 11). Also in the scarring stage, two phases were recognisable. In the early scarring stage, the colour of the papillae were still red, while the shape became cubic (Figure 12). As the scarring proceeded, they became pale but some degree of papillary irregularity still remained (Figures 13 and 14).