Suzuki Y, Inoshita N, Kikuchi D, et al. - The prevalence and clinicopathological features of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -associated early gastric carcinoma (EBVEGC) are described.

• A total of 618 lesions in 519 patients treated with ESD were reviewed.

• In situ hybridization staining was performed on tissue microarray sections for EBV-encoded small RNA transcripts (EBER).

• EBVEGC was identified in 1.9% of the lesions.

• EBVEGCs were more often located in approximation to the atrophic border in the middle or upper stomach and were reddish.

• Deeper invasion and more often undifferentiated histology were identified in EBVEGC.

• On narrow-band imaging magnifying endoscopy, researchers identified an endoscopic lace pattern, defined as an absent or obscure microsurface pattern and a microvascular pattern of a tiny, dense, and irregular subepithelial capillary network, significantly more often in the EBVEGC group.

• The EBVEGC group had significantly lower rate of curative resection.