2021 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 162-171
To clarify the usefulness of additional images, we examined their effect on the categorization criteria for gastric cancer. We studied 51 cases of gastric cancer detected at our center from April 2012 to March 2015. In 46 cases, the lesions were visualized in the regular 8 positions. Additional images of the lesions were taken in 38 cases. In 21 cases, the additional images resulted in a change of categorization, and in 17 of them, early stages of cancer were diagnosed. Of these 17 cases, 5 were judged as C-2 in the regular 8 positions, and as C-4 or higher by taking additional images. Ten cases were judged as C-3b in the regular 8 positions, and as C-4 or higher by taking additional images. There were 13 cases of advanced cancer, and all were judged as C-4 or higher in the regular 8 positions. From this examination, it is evident that taking additional images plays a significant role in detecting gastric cancer early. It is necessary for radiology technologists engaged in mass screening for gastric cancer to gain an extensive understanding of lesion images and take appropriate additional images. We believe that it is thus possible to improve the accuracy of such mass screening for gastric cancer.
