Gastric analysis as a screening measure for cancer of the stomach

Abstract

Gastric analysis, evaluated as a screening test for cancer, could not be shown to have practical value in the early detection of gastric cancer. Furthermore, it would appear likely that employment of gastric analysis as the sole screening measure for cancer of the stomach can be anticipated to result in overlooking most of the younger, potentially curable patients with this disease while requiring the expenditure of not inconsiderable effort to detect, largely, advanced cancers in older patients. The results of gastric analyses, however, did appear to have substantial prognostic value as patients having cancer of the stomach with demonstrable free acid had a significantly better rate of survival than those found to be achlorhydric.