Gastric lavage cytology and biopsy for early gastric cancer under direct vision by the fibergastroscope

Conclusion

Gastric biopsy under direct vision by the fibergastroscope is one of the most reliable methods as a clinical diagnostic procedure to detect early stomach cancers. As this is a histological diagnosis, this method is only a preoperative procedure to procure a definite diagnosis.

A great deal of experience is required to master the technique. Furthermore, there is a weak point in that one should not rely on the negative diagnosis if the biopsy site is inadequate because there are difficult areas for obtaining biopsies. Results of gastric lavage cytology under direct vision are excellent and its procedure is relatively simple. However, there is also a weak point of suspicious or false positive, a problem which cannot be resolved completely.

Combined employment of these two methods negates their weak points. Furthermore, these two methods combined with endoscopic and roentgenologic examinations increased the accuracy of diagnosis.