The optimal endoscopic screening interval for detecting early gastric neoplasms

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Optimal endoscopic screening intervals for early gastric neoplasms remain unstudied.
• Early detection of gastric adenomas and cancers is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the ideal interval for endoscopic examinations in diagnosing gastric cancer and adenomas early.
• To evaluate the impact of endoscopy intervals on treatment modality and cancer stage.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 846 patients treated for gastric neoplasms between 2008 and 2013.
• Patients were grouped by endoscopy intervals (≤12, 12-24, 24-36 months, and no endoscopy within 5 years).
• Outcomes assessed included the proportion of neoplasms treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection and advanced gastric cancer incidence.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher rates of endoscopic submucosal dissection were observed in patients with endoscopy intervals of ≤36 months compared to those with no endoscopy within 5 years (P < .001).
• Advanced gastric cancer was significantly less frequent in the ≤12 and 12-24 months endoscopy interval groups versus the no endoscopy within 5 years group (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Annual endoscopy offers no significant advantage over biennial or triennial screening for detecting endoscopically treatable gastric neoplasms.
• Biennial endoscopic screening is recommended to maximize the detection of early-stage gastric neoplasms and minimize advanced cancer development.