 Japanese endoscopic gastric atrophy EGA classification, operative link on Gastritis Assessment OLGA, operative link on intestinal metaplasia assessment OLGIM and gastritis pattern are used in evaluating the severity of gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in different countries, which are risk factors of gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate characteristics of background mucosa in early gastric cancer EGC, and to seek for the optimal assessment for EGC screening. 