Ekheden I, Yang X, Chen H, et al. - Whether an elevated risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) may be seen in relation to gastric atrophy, as well as further its interaction with poor oral health, in a high-risk region of China, was investigated in this population-based case-control analysis performed in Taixing, China from 2010-2014. Cases were selected from local hospitals and the local cancer registry. From the local population registry, researchers randomly picked the controls. There were 1,210 cases and 1,978 controls. Even following complete adjustment for potential confounding factors, an increased risk for ESCC was observed in relation to gastric atrophy (defined as a serum level of pepsinogen I < 55 μg/L). In a high-risk area of China, gastric atrophy seemed to confer risk for ESCC. Also, suggestion of an additive interaction between gastric atrophy and poor oral health was observed which raised this risk even further.