Which one of the following is the most significant risk factor for the development of gastric carcinoma?: (A) Paneth cell metaplasia, (B) Pyloric metaplasia, (C) Intestinal metaplasia, (D) Ciliated metaplasia
Answer is C. " The risk of tumor development is greatly increased in patients in whom mucosal inflammation progresses to multifocal mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia"- Robbins
"Serial endoscopic examinations of the stomach in patients with atrophic gastritis have documented replacement of the usual gastric mucosa by intestinal-type cells. This process of intestinal metaplasia may lead to cellular atypia and eventual neoplasia" - Harrison