Upper gastrointestinal mass survey with panendoscopy in a workplace

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging
• Public Health Screening

Background:

• Mass surveys are crucial for early detection of gastrointestinal diseases.
• Previous mass surveys utilized lateral-viewing gastrocameras for secondary examinations.
• Advancements in endoscopic technology prompt re-evaluation of screening methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a thin forward-viewing gastroscope in mass surveys.
• To compare the efficacy of forward-viewing gastroscopy with a historical lateral-viewing gastrocamera approach.
• To assess the detection rates of gastric and bulbar lesions, including ulcer scars.

Main Methods:

• A mass survey involving 449 employees underwent secondary examination with a thin forward-viewing gastroscope (Olympus GIF-P2).
• Results were compared to a prior survey (1976-1977) using a lateral-viewing gastrocamera (GT-PA2) on 372 individuals.
• Both surveys followed an initial photofluorography screening step.

Main Results:

• The forward-viewing gastroscope accurately diagnosed both gastric and bulbar lesions.
• Gastric lesion discovery rates were similar between the two survey methods.
• The gastrocamera identified gastric ulcer scars at a higher rate; few lesions were found in incompletely filled duodenal bulbs.

Conclusions:

• Thin forward-viewing gastroscopes are suitable for accurate mass screening of gastric and bulbar conditions.
• The choice of gastroscope may influence the detection rate of specific findings like gastric ulcer scars.
• Bulbar deformity can be associated with gastric erosions, particularly in the prepyloric region.