LONG‐TERM RESULTS OF GASTRIC CANCER SCREENING USING THE SERUM PEPSINOGEN TEST METHOD AMONG AN ASYMPTOMATIC MIDDLE‐AGED JAPANESE POPULATION

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In order to reduce gastric cancer death, mass screening for gastric cancer has been established in Japan for several decades. Only photofluorography is considered to be an acceptable screening method so far, but recent evidence may show the usefulness of serum pepsinogen (PG) measurement for gastric cancer screening. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the feasibility of measuring serum PG levels for detection of gastric cancers. METHODS: Serum PG levels (PGI/PGII) were measured in asymptomatic middle-aged Japanese between 1991 and 2005. Those with a PGI