Thammasat University and ASMG establish gastric premalignant care consensus

Thammasat University’s Center of Excellence in Gastroenterology, in collaboration with the ASEAN Stomach and Microbiota Study Group (ASMG) and international experts, has ratified a new multinational consensus titled “Gastric Premalignant Conditions in Southeast Asia: Prevention, Diagnosis, Surveillance, and Management.”

The consensus aims to provide evidence-based guidelines specifically tailored to the clinical context, disease prevalence, and resource availability of Southeast Asia. This addresses the current reliance on medical guidelines from the United States, Europe, and East Asia (such as China, Japan, and South Korea), which may not align perfectly with regional needs.

Professor Ratakorn Vilaichon, head of the center and Secretary-General of ASMG, noted that effective prevention must extend beyond the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. It must include the assessment and monitoring of premalignant conditions, such as gastric atrophy or intestinal metaplasia, which pose risks even after successful infection eradication. The new guidelines will assist physicians in determining which patients require screening, monitoring, and personalized management to reduce long-term cancer mortality and optimize healthcare resource use.