Abstract
The results of mass screenings for gastric cancer done during the past 10 years were reviewed. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group I (from 1993 to 1997) and Group II (high-density barium was used in mass screenings from 1998 to 2002).
The total number of enrolled persons was 553,478. The rate of persons recommended for detailed examination decreased from 14.6% in Group I to 13.0% in Group II. The total number of gastric cancers was 587 and the detection rate of gastric cancers increased from 0.10% to 0.11%, while the rate of early gastric cancers increased from 67.8% to 77.8%. Furthermore, the rate of early gastric cancers less than 1 cm in size increased from 14.4% to 21.1%. The false-negative rate was 28.2% in early gastric cancers in Group II.
In conclusion, recent mass screenings for gastric cancer using high-density barium have been useful, but they still have some limitations.
