Early Detection of Gastric Cancer

Gastric Cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Approximately 65% of patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed at late stages of the disease >>>.

Among the most researched factors associated with the development of gastric cancer, the most important is the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori in the stomach. It is estimated that infection by the bacterium is associated with 60% of cases of gastric cancer. Other related factors include poor eating habits with abundant, irritating, or fatty meals, excessive stress, and physical inactivity.

Changes that lead to the formation of cancer in the stomach occur in the surface of the stomach at a cellular level, where small alterations follow a progression of increasing severity: from acute gastritis, chronic gastritis, and atrophic atrophy, to premalignant lesions that precede gastric cancer. These lesions include intestinal metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia and high-grade dysplasia, the last of which is considered an early form of cancer.

Detecting premalignant lesions at an early stage is essential to reducing the >>>. To diagnose premalignant lesions it is necessary to perform an endoscopic evaluation of the stomach using endoscopes fitted with enhanced imaging technologies; common white light endoscopes are not capable of identifying the lesions. Enhanced imaging endoscopes make use of electronic chromoendoscopy to highlight the areas of the stomach that are undergoing subtle changes in the surface structure – changes that are easily overlooked with only the use of white light. Once the lesion is localized, electronic magnification enlarges the features of the gastric surface as to reveal the changes occurring at a cellular level. It is only in this manner that the diagnosis of premalignant lesions is achieved. It is important to note that the early diagnosis of these lesions is not taking place routinely worldwide.

In the Surgery and Gastroenterological Endoscopy Center we have access to the medical equipment, training, and experience needed to achieve the early detection of premalignant lesions.

In our experience, nearly 50% of patients who undergo an upper GI endoscopy are found to have intestinal metaplasia, while 25-30% is found with low-grade dysplasia, and 5-8% with high-grade dysplasia.

Gastric pre malignant lesion as seen with White Light and High Denfition Endoscopy (WLHDE)

Same lesion adding Electronic Chromoendoscopy.

With Magnification we can make the pre malignant lesion diagnosis.