Examination of the Usefulness of the Compression Method in X-ray Screening for Stomach Cancer —From the Perspective of Lesion Visualization—

Abstract

 Objective: To clarify the usefulness of the compression method in X-ray screening for stomach cancer.

 Subjects: 71 cases of gastric cancer and gastric adenoma discovered during gastric cancer X-ray screening conducted at our affiliated facilities.

 Methods: The degree of clarity of the lesion morphology shown on double-contrast images and compression images obtained using the standard radiography was defined as the degree of lesion visualization. The degree of lesion visualization was assessed based on retrospectively obtained endoscopic or resected specimens and macroscopic findings, and was divided into two categories: good and poor. Study 1. Lesion visualization on double-contrast and compression images, Study 2. Lesion visualization on compression images by lesion factor (① area, ② wall side, ③ macroscopic type, ④ size).

 Results: Study 1. The degree of lesion visualization in double-contrast images was good in 85.9% (61/71) and poor in 14.1% (10/71), while the degree of lesion visualization in compression images was good in 76.1% (54/71) and poor in 23.9% (17/71), with no significant difference observed between the degree of lesion visualization in double-contrast and compression images. In particular, eight out of 10 cases with poor double contrast images had good compression images. Study 2. By lesion factor, ③ macroscopic type 1 to 5 was significantly better than type 0, but no differences in lesion visualization were observed by ① area, ② wall, or ④ size.

 Conclusion: In gastric cancer X-ray screening, the compression method is useful for visualizing lesions and is considered to be a method that can complement the double contrast method.