The incidence of adenocarcinoma around the esophagogastric junction is increasing. The significance of intestinal metaplasia found in biopsy taken from normal appearing squamocolumnar junction is not clear. The aim of this study was to define the frequency of intestinal metaplasia at normal-appearing esophagogastric junction and clinical, endoscopic and histological associations. METHODS: 239 patients referred for gastroscopy participated in the study. Of 192 patients, two groups were compared. Group I included 40 patients with metaplasia intestinal at the esophagogastric junction and group II included 152 patients with no metaplasia intestinal at the same location. Biopsy specimens were taken from above and below the squamocolumnar junction, and gastric antrum The biopsy specimens were stained with haematoxylin-eosin. RESULTS: Intestinal metaplasia at the squamocolumnar junction was found in 40 patients (21%). Metaplasia was associated with increasing age (p=0.002) and antral intestinal metaplasia (p<0.001)(OR 14.6). There was no association with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. CONCLUSION: Intestinal metaplasia at the esophagogastric junction occurs frequently in Peruvian patients. It is associated with increasing age and antral intestinal metaplasia but not gastro-esophageal reflux disease.