A study of gastric cancer mass screening using the serum pepsinogen test in combination with the barium X-ray method in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Abstract

We investigated the efficiency of gastric cancer mass screening in Maniwa City using the serum pepsinogen (PG) test method in combination with the barium X-ray method in 2004. The serum PG-I and -II levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay as the first step. PG-positive subjects were recommended to undergo further screening by endoscopy, and PG-negative subjects were recommended to undergo examination by the barium X-ray method as the second step. In 2004, 3949 persons were enrolled in this study. 950 (24.1%) were positive for PG test and 2999 were negative. The endoscopic examination were performed in 645 (67.9%) out of the 950 persons. As a result, 15 gastric cancer cases were detected and the detection rate was 0.38%. Eight of these were diagnosed as early gastric cancer by endoscopy. In conclusion, the serum PG test and the barium X-ray method are useful for gastric cancer mass screening.