The Syndrome of Type A Chronic Atrophic Gastritis, Pernicious Anemia, and Multiple Gastric Carcinoids

Gastric carcinoid tumors comprise approximately 1.0 to 2.7% of all carcinoid tumors. There appears to be an association between gastric carcinoids and pernicious anemia on the basis of underlying type A chronic atrophic gastritis. We review the relevant literature and describe a 63-year-old woman who had pernicious anemia and multiple polypoid gastric carcinoid tumors. The association of these disorders, proposed mechanisms of such association, and the need for an aggressive diagnostic approach are discussed.