The cancer in the upper stomach was observed in 14 (5.4%) out of the 260 cases of early gastric cancer and 29 (10.4%) out of the 280 cases of advanced gastric cancer. Frequency of complaints was higher in the cases of the upper gastric cancers as compared with the cancer of the other parts of the stomach.Half of the early cancers in the upper stomach were diagnosed at the first examination, but the rest were overlooked and followed. These follow-up cases were diagnosed at the second or the third examination which was done six to twelve months after the first examination. Though the first X-ray and endoscopic films were reinterpreted, any finding of cancer was not observed. From such experiences, it was considered that the early diagnosis of the upper gastric cancer was difficult, because findings of cancer on the upper part of the stomach hardly be depicted by either X-ray and endoscopic examination. After our investigation with the precise X-ray examination on upper gastric cancer, it was found that both double contrast method of upper part of the stomach in the half standing or upright position and the photographic method at the moment of barium passing over the cardia were useful to obtain significant pictures of the cancer in the upper part of the stomach.
