| Theme |
Evidence-based Guidelines Version 2 for Gastric Cancer Screening ; The Beginning of a New Era of Endoscopic Cancer Screening |
| Title |
Scientific Evidence of Gastric Cancer Screening |
| Author |
Takashi Kawai |
Endoscopy Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Takemasa Sato |
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Naoko Kuwata |
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Kenji Yagi |
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Fuminori Moriyasu |
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Sumito Hoshino |
3De partment of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| Author |
Akihiko Tsuchida |
3De partment of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
In Japan, the mortality rate of gastric cancer was very high during 1940‒1960. Screening for gastric cancer by using barium radiography began under the National Health Care in 1983. The widespread use of this health check system has contributed to the decrease in the mortality rate of gastric cancer. The morbidity rate of stomach cancer decreased only slightly；however, its mortality rate decreased markedly from 1960 to 2000. The detection rates of gastric cancer with endoscopy are similar or superior to those with barium radiography. However, endoscopy is not recommended for population‒based screening because of insufficient evidence showing its effectiveness in reducing the mortality rate of gastric cancer. Recently, endoscopic screening was reported to be capable of reducing the mortality rate of gastric cancer in Niigata City. Therefore, endoscopic screening was allowed as a public health program by 2015. |