Correlation between the ABC classification and radiological findings for assessing gastric cancer risk.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between ABC risk assessment and radiological findings of gastric mucosa and to propose an improved method for gastric cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 318 participants with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) antibody titers, serum pepsinogen (PG) and upper GI radiography and then classified them into three groups A, double-negative; B, Hp-positive, PG-negative; C, PG-positive. Group A was subclassified as A-1, Hp antibody titer <3.0 U/ml; A-2, Hp antibody titer ≥3.0 U/ml. Results for group A and non-A (B or C) participants and radiological findings of gastric mucosa (fold and area gastricae) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Radiological findings differed significantly between the 207 A-1 and 98 non-A group. Odds ratios were 17.72 for fold distribution, 10.63 for fold thickness, 6.10 for fold characteristics, and 10.62 for area gastricae. Presence of ≥2 risk factors offered 90.3 % sensitivity, 94.7 % specificity, and 93.3 % accuracy. Nine (69.2 %) of the 13 A-2 group participants and 11 (5.3 %) A-1 group participants had a risk for gastric cancer according to radiological findings. CONCLUSION: A good correlation exists between ABC classifications and radiological findings for gastric cancer risk, but some discrepant cases exist. We recommend both methods as screening for gastric cancer.