食道・胃・大腸癌の早期診断と治療

The recent trends for gastrointestinal tract cancer mortality in Japan have shown a slight increase in death from cancer of the esophagus, a decrease in death from cancer of the stomach, and an increase in death from large bowel cancer. In some cases, gastrointestinal tract cancer progresses to an advanced stage before symptoms occur, such as abdominal discomfort and bleeding. However, if “examination is conducted before the onset of such symptoms and cancer is detected at an early stage,” the risk of death is diminished. This communication reports on the present status of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and large intestine in Japan, as well as methods for earlier diagnosis and recent approaches to cancer therapy. Matters that require attention are also reported.
The most important thing about gastrointestinal tract cancer is to detect it at an early stage by examination before the onset of symptoms. Esophageal cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage unless Lugol staining is done at the time of endoscopic examination. Performance endoscopy at the time of a checkup is important for men aged 55 years and over as well as individuals with a history of drinking or smoking.Individuals with a family history of gastric cancer must be checked for Helicobacter pylori when the age of 20 is attained. Since colorectal cancer is on the increase, mass screening should be done using the fecal occult blood reaction. Even when the stool is negative for occult blood, it is important to perform endoscopic examination if a person has abnormal bowel movements or a family history of colorectal cancer.

四国医学雑誌 : http://www.tokushima-u.ac.jp/med/research/shikoku_acta_medica.html