[Gastroscopy in Austria the results of a questionnaire study (author's transl)]

By means of a questionnaire we have gathered information about gastroscopy in Austria. This inquiry has enabled us to compare the techniques used and the results obtained in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. The final aim of the investigation was to obtain guidelines for the wider application of gastroscopy for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer. The level of response by Austrian endoscopists to the inquiry was high at 72.7%. The results demonstrate a considerable increase in the use of gastroscopy in Austria over the past few years. However, some of the provinces hate fallen behind others. The available equipment is not fully used and reasons for this are discussed. A close correlation is shown to exist between the number of gastric biopsies carried out and the incidence of early gastric cancer. It is further shown that the use of cytological brushing improves the results. Only one third of endoscopists, however, use this method.