Diagnosis of early gastric cancer.

: Early gastric cancer is being encountered with increasing frequency in Germany as well as Japan and elsewhere through greater awareness, selection of high risk patients and improved diagnostic methods. We consider endoscopy superior to radiology in the detection of early gastric cancer. Polypoid lesions of the stomach need endoscopic biopsy or removal for proper diagnosis. Gastric ulcers should be followed by endoscopy and guided biopsies until healing is complete. Adequate sampling of a suspected gastric lesion may require multiple biopsy specimens for accurate histological interpretation.