In medical practice, an upset stomach is one of the common reasons for visiting the doctor. A patient named Xiao Wang recently came to my clinic with an upset stomach. He was worried that he might have stomach cancer because he had seen some information about stomach cancer on the Internet, which mentioned a gastroscopy for a biopsy.
Xiao Wang is a young office worker with a busy schedule of work and a fast pace of life, and often goes out to socialize. In recent months, he has begun to feel an upset stomach, sometimes accompanied by stomach pain and indigestion symptoms. He began to worry that he might have stomach cancer because the symptoms matched those described on the Internet.
When I received Xiao Wang, I first made a detailed inquiry about him and learned about his symptoms and lifestyle habits. Subsequently, I scheduled a gastroscopy for him and performed a biopsy to further clarify the diagnosis. While waiting for the test results, I explained to him the significance of a gastroscopy biopsy and told him that it didn't mean it had to be stomach cancer. I also introduced him to other possible causes like gastritis, ulcers, etc.
After examination and examination, the final diagnosis showed that Xiao Wang only suffered from some mild gastritis, which required appropriate treatment and lifestyle adjustments. Xiao Wang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this result, and he also understood that gastroscopy for biopsy does not always mean stomach cancer. Through this experience, Xiao Wang paid more attention to health and learned more about how to treat his body correctly.
What is the relationship between gastroscopy biopsy and gastric cancer?
Gastroscopic biopsy is a common endoscopic method used to obtain a biopsy of gastric mucosal tissue for pathological examination. Although gastroscopic biopsy is one of the important means to diagnose gastric cancer, it does not mean that all patients who have undergone gastroscopic biopsy have gastric cancer.
The main purpose of a gastroscopic biopsy is to determine the cause of stomach problems, including but not limited to stomach cancer. When performing a gastroscopic biopsy, the doctor will select the biopsy site in a targeted manner based on the patient's symptoms and examination results to obtain a tissue sample that may be abnormal.
The results of a gastroscopic biopsy require pathological examination to determine whether there is cancer. Pathologists look at the cell morphology and structure of a tissue specimen to determine if cancer cells are present. If the test results show the presence of cancer cells, then the initial diagnosis of gastric cancer can be made; If no cancer cells are found, stomach cancer is ruled out.
Therefore, gastroscopic biopsy is not an absolute standard for diagnosing gastric cancer, but an important adjunct. Diagnosing gastric cancer also requires a comprehensive judgment and diagnosis based on factors such as the patient's clinical manifestations, other examination results (such as imaging tests and tumor marker detection), and medical history.
How can I tell if a gastroscopy biopsy result is stomach cancer?
Weaving characteristics: Doctors look at a tissue sample taken from the stomach and examine its cellular structure under a microscope. If cell abnormalities are found, such as enlarged nuclei and increased atypia, it may indicate that the patient has cancer. However, it is important to note that histological features alone do not determine cancer, and other factors need to be combined.
Tumor markers: Your doctor may do some blood tests to detect tumor markers in your blood. Some tumor markers, such as CA19-9 and CEA, may indicate the presence of cancer if they are abnormally elevated, but they may also be affected by other factors and are not 100% accurate.
Clinical presentation: In addition to the test results, doctors consider the patient's clinical presentation. For example, whether the patient has significant symptoms such as weight loss, loss of appetite, and indigestion, and whether there is a family history. This information can help your doctor make an initial diagnosis of whether cancer is present.
Other diagnostic methods and treatments for gastric cancer.
Other diagnostic methods:
Imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds, can help doctors see the location, size and spread of the tumor.
Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS): A combination of endoscopic and ultrasound techniques allows for a clearer view of the stomach wall and other organs, helping to diagnose the depth and spread of gastric cancer.
Blood tests: check for tumor markers such as CA 19-9 and CEA in the blood, high levels may indicate the presence of stomach cancer but cannot be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment:
Surgical treatment: including partial or complete gastric and lymph node dissection of the tumor, which is suitable for patients with early gastric cancer and some advanced gastric cancer.
Radiation therapy: Radiation is used to destroy tumor cells, often used to reduce tumor size, relieve symptoms or prepare for surgery.
Chemotherapy: The use of chemical drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing, either alone or in combination with surgery or radiation therapy.
Targeted therapy: Targeting specific molecular targets of gastric cancer cells, treatment with targeted drugs can reduce damage to normal cells.
Immunotherapy: Activates or strengthens a patient's own immune system to help the body recognize and attack cancer cells.
The above treatments are usually based on the specific situation of the patient and the severity of the disease, and require the doctor to formulate a personalized treatment plan after comprehensive consideration.