Evaluation of mass screening program for stomach cancer

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Gastric cancer remains a significant health concern globally.
• Early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes and survival rates.
• Mass survey examinations offer a proactive approach to identifying diseases like gastric cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the 14-year results of a mass survey examination program for gastric cancer in Miyagi Prefecture.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of mass surveys in detecting gastric cancer, particularly early-stage cases.
• To assess the impact of the survey program on gastric cancer prognosis and mortality within the studied population.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a specific mass survey examination method for gastric cancer in Miyagi Prefecture.
• Accumulation and analysis of data from the survey program over a 14-year period.
• Identification and classification of detected gastric cancer cases, including early-stage diagnoses.

Main Results:

• Over 14 years, 1,427 gastric cancer cases (0.18%) were identified through mass surveys.
• 450 of these cases were early-stage gastric cancer (limited to mucosa and submucosa), representing 36.4% of all surgically confirmed cases.
• Early gastric cancer cases were predominantly preclinical, lacking symptoms.
• Surgery for early gastric cancer yielded a favorable prognosis with a five-year survival rate exceeding 90%.
• A decrease in gastric cancer-related deaths was observed in the surveyed population.

Conclusions:

• Mass survey examinations are effective in detecting a significant number of gastric cancer cases, including early-stage disease.
• The high proportion of early-stage gastric cancer detected highlights the value of screening in identifying preclinical cases.
• The favorable surgical prognosis for early gastric cancer and the observed reduction in mortality underscore the public health benefits of such screening programs.