1982 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 482-487_1
Using a panendoscope, esophago-gastro-duodenobulboscopy was achieved in 2, 744 consecutive patients during the past 5 years. Among the detected disoriers, 10 cases of esophageal carcinoma and 144 cases of gastric carcinoma were included. Of these patients with malignancy, 5 cases (50%) of esophageal and 37 cases (25.6%) of gastric carcinoma were found at early stages. In all of 5 early esophageal carcinoma, endoscopy and biopsy were essential in establishing the diagnosis, while radiology was effective in only 2 of the 5 patients in detecting the lesions. Two of the 5 patients with early esophageal carcinoma was coincidentally associated with gastric carcinoma, one with early carcinoma and the other with advanced one. Another case of early esophageal carcinoma had a history of gastrectomy due to early gastric carcinoma ten years ago. Prognosis of these patients with early esophageal carcinoma were not good despite of surgical operation because of their old age and other malignacy. Routine performance of UGI tract endoscopy with a f orwardviewing instrument is essential in detecting early esophageal carcinoma.
