In general, healthy stomach lining is salmon pink to light orange in colour. In the presence of inflammation, specks of red spot may be appreciated. In severe inflammation with erosion, dark brown spots from altered blood may also be present.
White patches, on the other hand, may suggest the possibility of tissue transformation or change. A common reason is degeneration or atrophy of the normal stomach lining. This is usually found at the distal stomach or antrum. Another common but less obvious cause is intestinal metaplasia when patches of intestinal tissue line the stomach wall. This condition is associated with a small increase in stomach cancer risk and should be monitored at suitable intervals.[1]
- Dr Quan
Reference:
1. Reddy KM, Chang JI, Shi JM, Wu BU. Risk of Gastric Cancer Among Patients With Intestinal Metaplasia of the Stomach in a US Integrated Health Care System. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(10):1420-5.
