Chest X-ray, barium, tumor markers, etc. The pitfalls of not being able to detect serious illness through tests (NEWS Post Seven)-Yahoo! News

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What inspection methods require caution (image)

Chest x-ray, barium, tumor markers Other Pitfalls of Undetectable Serious Diseases Through Tests (NEWS Post Seven) - Yahoo! News

 Everyone would be relieved if they were told that there was no problem with the numerical values ​​being within the normal range after undergoing a medical checkup or medical checkup. However, even if the tests show no abnormalities, there are times when it is not reassuring.

In July 2018, a medical institution in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, conducted a chest X-ray examination (X-ray) of a woman in her 40s as a lung cancer screening for residents' health checkup, but lung cancer was overlooked as "no abnormalities". reported to have died. When this medical institution reconfirmed the test images of people who had undergone lung cancer screening in the past, it was found that 44 people needed further detailed examinations. "These 'oversights' are just the tip of the iceberg and can happen at any medical institution," says Dr. Hideomi Nakahara, a medical doctor. "First of all, chest X-ray examination was introduced after the war as a test to investigate tuberculosis, which was widespread at the time. Early stage lung cancer is about 1 cm in size, but the resolution of X-ray photographs is low. , is difficult to detect.At the stage that can be detected by chest X-ray examination, most of the cases have progressed to stage III to IV.In addition, it is said that it is difficult to detect cancer in the area overlapping the heart and ribs. There are also problems.” In a report by the Japan Council for Quality Health Care, which collects medical adverse event information, the false-negative rate of chest X-ray examinations (cancer is not determined to be suspected despite the presence of cancer) is the highest. There is data that it is as high as 50%. Even from a global perspective, it is common sense that "chest X-ray examinations are not used" for cancer screening. Nakahara recommends CT examination as a method for early detection of lung cancer. "I also had oropharyngeal cancer and had metastasis to the lungs, but I was finally able to find it with a CT scan. With a CT, you can find cancer in millimeters." It is pointed out that it is a barium examination of the stomach. Mr. Masahiko Okada (physician), Professor Emeritus of Niigata University School of Medicine, says that cancers are likely to be overlooked due to the low resolution of X-rays, just like chest X-rays. “Because there are few patients with gastric cancer in the developed countries of Europe and the United States, there are almost no papers investigating barium tests in detail. Even in Japan, there is little data to show that barium tests are effective, and the grounds for conducting tests are vague. That's it."

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