Precision Control on Gastric Mass Screenings by Use of Computer in a Rural District / 日本農村医学会雑誌

This is a report on the precision controlled gastric mass screenings conducted under the sponsorship of the Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives in Nagano Prefecture and the assessment test using some samples of radiographic stomach images.<BR>Physicians and x-ray technicians participated in the test and interpreted in their own ways the radiographs of 30 healthy cases and 20 cases of cancer of the stomach. Experienced physicians and technicians made better scores on the test than those less experienced in reading radiographs. Physicians read a little better that technicians in checkups of different parts regardless of years of experience, but the difference was not significant. In terms of FP and FN percentages (?), physicians scored 40.5% and 20.8% on the first tryout, and 34.0% and 29.0% on the second tryout.<BR>The 1988 mass screening found 67.4% of cancer in antral and angular areas and 23.8% on the lesser curvature side of the angular area.<BR>Grade 5 means that “No doubt about the existence of cancerous lesions.” In the 1983 screening, 25% of the grade 5 cases turned out to be nothing wrong upon close examination. The figure went down to 5.9% in the 1988.

Results of Mass Gastric Examination Conducted by the Nagano Prefectural Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In order to carry out mass examination for detection of stomach ailments effectively and improve screening accuracy, the Nagano Prefectural Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, with its mass gastric examination committee as a driving force, has made every endeavor in close collaboration with Federation-affiliated hospitals.<BR>The ratio of those receiving detailed examination to the total number of those who have undergone mass screenings, and the detection ratio of gastric cancer cases, especially those in early stages, have increased steadily over the past years.<BR>This is due in the main to untiring effort exerted by public health nurses and other persons concerned with health problems.<BR>However, the results of X-ray examination made on the basis of the diagnostic standards prepared by the Federation show that there is much need of improving examiners' ability to read mass miniature radiographs correctly.