News - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 09:07
PEPSINOGEN TESTING – INCREASING ACCURACY IN EARLY STOMACH CANCER SCREENING
Last update 11/27/2024 - 09:16
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Duat – Gastroenterology & Hepatology Department, Hanoi French Hospital, and Standing Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Association of Gastroenterology, shares: “When combining gastric endoscopy with biopsy, PG testing, and IgG H. pylori testing (commonly known as HP bacteria testing), early diagnosis of stomach cancer becomes highly accurate.”
Explaining further, he notes that pepsinogen (PG) is a precursor enzyme of pepsin, secreted by gastric mucosal cells. PG levels reflect the morphology and function of the gastric mucosa. Pepsinogen I, II, and the PGI/II ratio tests aid in diagnosing gastric atrophy, a condition considered a precancerous lesion for stomach cancer.
Pepsinogen exists in two forms: pepsinogen I (PGI) and pepsinogen II (PGII). PGI and PGII are produced by chief cells and mucous neck cells in the fundic glands of the stomach. Additionally, PGII is secreted in the cardia, pylorus, and Brunner's glands in the duodenum, making PGII more stable than PGI.
In healthy individuals, PGI levels are about six times higher than PGII. In cases of atrophic gastritis, the synthesis and secretion capabilities of cells decrease, lowering PGI levels while PGII remains stable or increases, resulting in a decreased PGI/PGII ratio. The pepsinogen test is considered positive when PGI ≤ 70 ng/ml and the PGI/PGII ratio ≤ 3.
Pepsinogen I, II, and the PGI/II ratio tests are typically recommended for patients with early symptoms of stomach cancer, such as persistent indigestion, belching, early satiety, bloating after eating, fatigue, epigastric pain, and nausea.
At Hanoi French Hospital, to provide the most accurate diagnosis for patients, Pepsinogen I/II testing is included in the stomach cancer screening package alongside other services, such as:
- Examination and consultation with a specialist
- Narrow-band imaging (NBI) gastric endoscopy
- Complete blood count and tumor markers: CEA, CA 72-4
- HP CLO and biopsy
- Fecal occult blood test
- Same-day hospitalization
Patients can trust the accuracy of early stomach cancer screening at Hanoi French Hospital, thanks to:
- A highly skilled team of gastroenterologists, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Duat with over 40 years of experience in treating gastritis, ulcers, and removing polyps in the colon, stomach, and duodenum; Dr. Nguyen Thi Cam Tu, a specialist with nearly 30 years of experience in early endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers; and Dr. Akiko Tomonari, a Japanese specialist in endoscopy and gastrointestinal cancer treatment.
- The Olympus EVIS EXERA III CV 190 HQ endoscopy system with high-resolution NBI technology for enhanced imaging and magnification up to several hundred times
- Endoscopy and treatment protocols following the latest recommendations from WHO, the World Gastroenterology Organization, and the the Vietnamese Federation for Digestive Endoscopy
- Endoscopy suites meeting the highest standards in infection control
- A 24/7 laboratory equipped with Abbott’s (USA) advanced Alinity biochemical-immunoassay system for rapid and accurate test results
For consultations or appointments with our gastroenterology specialists, or to learn more about our stomach cancer screening package, please contact our HOTLINE at 024.35771100, message us on our Facebook page "Hanoi French Hospital," or Zalo OA at zalo.me/2008009049335817955.
