Can a gastrin 17 physical examination detect stomach cancer?

Gastrin-17 detection cannot directly diagnose gastric cancer, but can serve as an auxiliary indicator to indicate the risk of gastric mucosal lesions. Abnormal levels of gastrin 17 may be associated with chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastrinoma, and other diseases. Gastric cancer should be diagnosed by combining gastroscopy and pathological examination. Gastrin-17 is a hormone secreted by G cells in the gastric antrum, and its level changes can reflect the function of gastric acid secretion and the state of the gastric mucosa. When the gastric mucosa shrinks, a decrease in gastric acid secretion will feedback and cause an increase in gastrin-17. In clinical practice, some gastric cancer patients may have abnormal levels of gastrin 17, but the specificity of this indicator is low, and simple detection cannot distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Those who have abnormal values during physical examination need to undergo further observation of mucosal morphology through gastroscopy, and if necessary, biopsy should be taken for pathological diagnosis. The gold standard for gastric cancer screening is gastroscopy combined with histopathological examination. For high-risk populations of gastric cancer, such as those with long-term helicobacter pylori infection, a family history of gastric cancer, and chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia, even if the gastrin 17 test result is normal, they should undergo regular gastroscopy screening. Gastrin-17 detection is more suitable for initial screening of gastric mucosal atrophy or as one of the diagnostic reference indicators for gastrinoma.

It is recommended that individuals with abnormal levels of Gastrin-17 during a physical examination seek timely medical attention from a gastroenterologist and undergo comprehensive tests such as carbon-13 breath test and pepsinogen detection. Pay attention to dietary habits in daily life, avoid high salt pickled foods, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. It is recommended that people over 40 years old undergo gastroscopy examination every 1-2 years, especially when symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and weight loss occur, active screening should be carried out.