Tests to Diagnosis Stomach Cancer
1. Gastroscopy
This procedure allows direct visualization of your
oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. A thin, flexible,
lighted tube with a fibreoptic cable and video
system is inserted through your mouth and into your
esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small
intestine. Your throat is usually numbed with
lignocaine and you will receive intravenous sedation
to ensure that you are comfortable.
If any tissue looks abnormal, we will remove a small
sample using instruments inserted through the
endoscope. The sample can then be tested for
bacteria or sent to a lab for microscopic
examination by a pathologist. In this way, tissues
can be tested for H. Pylori infection, intestinal
metaplasia (a pre-cancerous condition) or frank
cancer.
The procedure takes about 10 to 15 minutes, though
you won't be sent home until the medication wears
off - two hours later. Risks of the procedure are
rare and include bleeding and perforation of the
stomach lining. The most common complication is a
slight sore throat from passage of the endoscope.
2. Barium meal x-ray
This test uses a series of X-rays to examine your
esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small
intestine. During the test, you'll drink a thick,
x-ray visible liquid (barium) that temporarily coats
the lining of your stomach so that it shows up
clearly on the X-rays. You may also be asked to
swallow a gas-producing liquid or pill which
stretches the stomach and separates its folds,
thereby providing a better view of the inner lining.
Tests to Stage Stomach Cancer
If you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, we will
recommend additional tests to help determine the
extent of the disease (staging tests).
1. Computerized tomography (CT) scans.
Used to check for the spread of cancer outside your
stomach to organs such as your liver, omentum,
pancreas, lymph nodes and lungs. It uses multiple
x-rays and computer processing to produce detailed
cross-sectional images of your internal organs.
2. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
Endoscopic ultrasound is similar to upper
gastroscopy, but in this case, the endoscope carries
a small ultrasound probe that uses high-frequency
sound waves to create images of your stomach and
surrounding tissues, including lymph nodes.
Staging Stomach Cancer
The stage of stomach cancer can usually be predicted
before surgery but final staging is based on
microscopic examination of the removed stomach.
Definition of the stages of stomach cancer are
technical and complex. That shown below is
simplified for lay persons (see disclaimer).
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Direct Access Endoscopy
Painless endoscopy.
We take pride in making your endoscopy
painless by a combination of adequate
sedation and gentle technique.
Raffles
Hospital offers ‘Direct Access Endoscopy’.
You or your doctor can make a booking
directly with us for gastroscopy. You will
need to call or email us for a date and
time.
You will need to be fasted overnight or 6-hours before the
appointed time and report to our Day Surgery
Centre 1-hour earlier. You may need to omit
some medication that morning, especially
diabetic medication.
Our doctors will see you before and after the procedure. You need
to rest about 2-hours after the procedure
and should not drive that day. We will
provide detailed instructions when you make
your booking.
Early Stomach / Gastric
Cancer
Both Gastroscopy and Barium x-rays are able
to detect stomach or gastric cancer at an
early stage. Five-year survival following
surgery of early stomach cancer in stages -
0, 1 and 2 is far superior to stages - 3 and
4.
Late Stomach / Gastric Cancer
CT Scan of a
stage-4 cancer with extensive, blood-borne
spread to the liver showing multiple cancer
nodules.
Laparoscopic view of advanced stomach cancer which has broken
through the outer wall and spread to omentum.
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