| [ Summary ] |
In Suita City, the pepsinogen test method (PG test method) was introduced in 2000 as a means of supplementing radiography based gastric cancer mass screening, which has a low participation rate. During the initial year of mass screening using the PG method, the participation rate for further detailed examination among those with positive results was high, at about 80 %. The cancer detection rate was equivalent to that of the radiography based screening, and the incidence of early‒stage cancer was high. However, the participation rate in an endoscopic surveillance program, defined as an annual endoscopic examination for 5 years for individuals with positive screening results, was considerably lower because of insufficient management of targeted individuals due to the lack of funds and human resources. Risk screening that employs the PG test method can be introduced relatively easily. In contrast, the management and maintenance of the endoscopic surveillance program are extremely difficult. The introduction of the PG test method as a supplementary screening tool by the local governments would require careful consideration and preparedness because of the processing capacity that will be involved in endoscopic screening. |