Abstract:Objective To compare clinicopathological features between differentiated and undifferentiated early gastric cancer (EGC) following successful Helicobacter pylori eradication and identify risk factors for undifferentiated EGC. Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed on data of patients who were found to have EGC and underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection one year after successful Helicobacter pylori eradication from January 2018 to May 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital. The patients were divided into differentiated EGC group and undifferentiated EGC group and all clinicopathological data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to identify the risk factors for undifferentiated EGC. Results A total of 152 patients were included, among whom 143 had differentiated EGC and 9 had undifferentiated EGC. There was no difference between differentiated and undifferentiated EGC in age, gender, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipemia, smoking or family history of gastric cancer (P>0.05). Flat/depressed-type lesions predominated in undifferentiated EGC [88.9% (8/9)] versus elevated-type in differentiated EGC [56.6% (81/143), P=0.005]. Submucosal invasion [33.3% (3/9) VS 4.2% (6/143), P=0.010] and metachronous gastric cancer [33.3% (3/9) VS 1.4% (2/143), P<0.001] were more common in the undifferentiated group. Multivariate logistic analysis identified female gender (P=0.028, OR=14.24, 95%CI:1.34-151.28) and flat-type (P=0.026, OR=48.96, 95%CI: 1.60-1 495.39) as independent risk factors for undifferentiated EGC. Conclusion Undifferentiated EGC after Helicobacter pylori eradication demonstrates higher rates of flat/depressed morphology, submucosal invasion, and metachronous lesions. Female gender and flat-type lesions are independent risk factors for undifferentiated histology.