Can Bile Reflux Gastritis Lead to Cancer?

Bile reflux gastritis has the potential to develop into cancer if left untreated. Bile, an alkaline digestive fluid, normally remains in the small intestine. However, when it flows back into the stomach, it can irritate and damage the gastric mucosa. The stomach typically maintains an acidic environment, and the introduction of alkaline bile disrupts this balance, leading to chronic inflammation.

Over time, persistent inflammation may result in intestinal metaplasia, a condition where the stomach lining begins to resemble the intestine. As this abnormal tissue change progresses, it can lead to epithelial dysplasia—a precancerous condition characterized by abnormal cell growth.

The repeated cycle of tissue damage and cellular changes can cause low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia to progress, increasing the risk of stomach cancer over several years. To manage bile reflux, treatment often includes medications that neutralize bile and prokinetic drugs that enhance gastrointestinal motility. In cases where cancer does develop, early detection allows for minimally invasive treatment through endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).