OBJECTIVETo evaluate effect of screening of esophageal cancer at rural areas in Henan province.

METHODSAt rural areas with high incidence of upper gastrointestinal carcinoma in Henan province total of 88,263 persons with 40 to 69 years old were set to the target population of the screening by the 12 cities and countries and endoscope and pathology diagnosis were performed during 2009-2013. For patients with precancerous lesions, follow-up visits were conducted and defined as follows: once in three years for patients with mild dysplasia, once per year for moderate hyperplasia patients, the patients with severe intraepithelial neoplasia/carcinoma in situ should be treat, at least once per year for those one who didn't under treatment. The result data of screening were summarized and detection rates of esophagus hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ, early and middle-late cancer were calculated, as well as the early diagnosis rate. The result between first round and follow-up screening was compared.

RESULTSTarget population were examined in first round screening. There were 8,434 persons with above mild dysplasia and the detection rate was 9.56%, among them there were 7,224 (8.18%) cases with light-middle hyperplasia, 789 (0.89%) cases with serious dysplasia or cancer in situ, 239 (0.27%) cases with early cancer and 182 (0.21%) cases with middle-late cancer. The sum of serious dysplasia or cancer in situ and early cancer was 1 028 and the early detection rate was 84.96% (1,028/1,210). From 2012 to 2013, the follow-up screening for persons with light-middle hyperplasia which should be followed 4,230 cases, there were 2 853 people to take in screening and compliance was 67.45%. Total of 94 cases were diagnosed with cancer in situ or early cancer. The detection rate and the early detection rate were 3.29% and 100%, respectively. The rates of detection and early detection in phase of follow-up screening were statistically significantly higher than that in first round screening respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONAt rural areas of high incidence upper gastrointestinal carcinoma in Henan province, the screening with endoscope had good effect and strengthening the follow-up screening could increase the effect.