Diagnosis of small early gastric cancer by X-ray, endoscopy, and biopsy

Cases of early gastric cancer detected over a span of 12 years were reviewed for three periods: 1968-71, 1972-74, 1975-79. Early gastric cancers detected in each period were compared by size, type, and accuracy of diagnostic techniques consisting of barium meal double contrast radiography, gastroscopy, and biopsy. Eighty-five lesions were detected in the first period, 101 in the second, and 237 in the third, in a total of 369 patients. The number of detected early gastric cancers less than 10 mm in diameter also increased in each period. The study indicated that emphasis should be placed on careful radiographic and gastroscopic analysis of slight mucosal abnormalities in order to detect small early gastric cancer with greater accuracy.