What diseases can be detected by gastroscopy

Gastroscopy can detect diseases such as esophagitis, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastric polyps, and gastric cancer. Gastroscopy is an important means of diagnosing upper gastrointestinal diseases, which can directly observe the mucosal conditions of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, detect lesions, and take biopsies.

Gastroscopy can clearly display inflammation, erosion, or ulceration of the esophageal mucosa, such as reflux esophagitis manifested as congestion, edema, and even strip-shaped erosion of the lower esophageal mucosa. Chronic gastritis is one of the most common findings of gastroscopy, which can observe changes such as congestion, edema, atrophy, or intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa. Atrophic gastritis requires regular follow-up. Gastric ulcer appears as a well-defined concave lesion under gastroscopy, with white coating at the bottom and surrounding mucosal congestion and edema. The benign or malignant nature of the ulcer can be determined through biopsy. Gastric polyps are characterized by protruding lesions of the gastric mucosa, divided into proliferative polyps and adenomatous polyps. The latter is at risk of cancer and can be directly removed and sent for pathology under gastroscopy. For early gastric cancer, gastroscopy can detect small bumps, depressions, or color abnormalities in the mucosa. Stained endoscopy and magnifying endoscopy techniques can improve detection rates, and biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis. In addition, gastroscopy can diagnose diseases such as duodenitis, duodenal ulcer, esophageal varices, esophageal cancer, and achalasia, and can perform treatment operations such as hemostasis, removal of foreign bodies, and polypectomy under the microscope.

It is recommended that people over 40 years old or those with a family history of gastric cancer, long-term Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic atrophic gastritis and other high-risk factors undergo regular gastroscopy examinations. Fasting for 8-12 hours is required before the examination, and within 2 hours after the examination, fasting and no water are allowed. Spicy and stimulating foods should be avoided, and a warm and cool liquid diet should be the main choice. If symptoms such as persistent upper abdominal pain, black stool, vomiting, and weight loss occur, timely medical attention should be sought to complete gastroscopy.