Mr. Ma, a 62-year-old man, never expected that
a routine painless gastrointestinal endoscopy
would reveal five early-stage cancer lesions.
Fortunately, thanks to the timely and professional care
provided by experts at Hainan Cancer Hospital,
all lesions were successfully removed with curative surgery.
On December 17, during a follow-up visit, no signs of cancer recurrence were detected.
Silent Threat: Early Stages Often Show No Symptoms
Mr. Ma, originally from Northeast China, has been living in Hainan for over a decade. Three months ago, he began experiencing persistent abdominal bloating and discomfort. Concerned, he visited the Gastroenterology Department of Hainan Cancer Hospital. Considering his symptoms, age, and medical history, doctors recommended a painless gastrointestinal endoscopy, among other tests.
The results shocked both Mr. Ma and his family.
During the procedure, endoscopy specialist Dr. Lou Runlong identified a fingernail-sized "red patch" at the lower end of the esophagus. Additionally, two small, seemingly inconspicuous "red spots," each about the size of a soybean, were found in the narrowed section of the esophageal midline.
Esophageal Lesions
During the examination of the stomach, congestion of the gastric fundus mucosa drew the doctors attention again. Based on clinical experience, such changes are often associated with prolonged Helicobacter pylori infection. After a thorough endoscopic exploration, a small ulcerative lesion resembling a "volcanic crater" was identified in a hidden area on the posterior wall and lesser curvature of the stomach body.
Gastric Lesions
Drawing on his diagnostic expertise, Dr. Lou Runlong astutely recognized that the multiple abnormalities observed in the patient’s esophagus and stomach was "far from ordinary."
With a commitment to safeguarding the patient’s life, Dr. Lou employed advanced techniques such as chromoendoscopy and magnifying endoscopy for a detailed inspection of suspicious areas. Following an on-site analysis by departmental experts, the findings were preliminarily identified as potential precancerous lesions.
Subsequent pathology results confirmed the team’s suspicions: the three "red patches" in the esophagus were all early-stage esophageal cancer, the lesion on the posterior wall of the stomach body was early gastric cancer, and the lesser curvature lesion was early-stage gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.
Early-stage gastrointestinal cancers are exceptionally insidious, often presenting with subtle or unremarkable features under endoscopy. Detecting these lesions requires endoscopists to have a high level of vigilance, a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge, and extensive diagnostic experience to uncover these "hidden clues."
“Finding five early-stage cancers in a single endoscopy is truly a rare occurrence!” remarked Professor Zhao Xinkai, Director of the Gastroenterology Department and Endoscopy Center at Hainan Cancer Hospital.
Professor Zhao Xinkais Team Performs Painless Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Multidisciplinary Consultation Enables Precision Treatment
Treating a single type of cancer is already highly complex. For a patient simultaneously diagnosed with three different malignant tumors, the challenge of treatment is even more formidable.
To ensure precise treatment, the Gastroenterology Department collaborated with experts from thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, pathology, radiology, medical oncology, and radiotherapy to conduct a multidisciplinary consultation. Together, they developed a personalized treatment plan tailored to the patient s condition.
Based on expert recommendations, the endoscopy specialists performed endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to treat the early-stage esophageal and gastric cancers with minimally invasive procedures.
赵心恺教授介绍，因发现较早，癌细胞仅侵犯黏膜浅表层，完整切除后无需抗肿瘤治疗。
Professor Zhao Xinkai explained that due to the early detection, the cancer cells were confined to the superficial mucosal layer, and complete resection eliminated the need for further anti-tumor treatments.
Expert Reminder
Early detection is more crucial than early treatment for gastrointestinal tumors.
Studies show that approximately 80% of gastrointestinal malignancies originate from benign polyps or chronic inflammation. Early detection can make nearly 80% of gastrointestinal cancers preventable and manageable.
Early-stage gastrointestinal cancers often present no obvious symptoms. By the time symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, or weight loss appear, the disease has often progressed to an advanced stage, significantly reducing treatment effectiveness.
Expert Recommendation: Individuals over the age of 40, those with a family history of gastrointestinal tumors, or those suffering from chronic gastrointestinal conditions are strongly advised to undergo regular gastrointestinal endoscopy screenings.
Expert Introduction
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Written by | Chen Lin