PURPOSE: To compare the image quality of UGIS (upper gastrointestinal series) obtained by direct radiography with that of UGIS obtained by indirect radiography in a mass screening program for gastric cancer, and to assess the validity of UGIS by indirect radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 994 persons participated in a mass screening test for gastric cancer between March 2003 and April 2003 at the Korea Association of Health Promotion (KAHP). Of these 994 persons, 494 underwent UGIS by direct radiography, while the remaining 500 underwent UGIS by indirect radiography (i.e. photofluorography using a mirror camera and a 100 mm-roll film). We compared the image quality of UGIS obtained by direct and indirect radiography with, in each case, the image quality being graded as 'excellent', 'good', 'fair', 'poor' or 'very poor'. RESULTS: The image quality of UGIS by both direct and indirect radiography was similar: most images in both groups were rated as either 'excellent', 'good', or 'fair', while the incidences of poorly rated images were similar in both cases (5% versus 6%, respectively); and there were no images rated as 'very poor' in either case. For certain sites of the stomach, the image quality of UGIS by direct radiography was superior to that of UGIS by indirect radiography, namely at the cardia (p<0.001) and duodenum (p=0.001). However, for other sites of the stomach, the image quality of UGIS by both direct and indirect radiography was similar, namely at the body (p=0.043) and pylorus (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the image quality between UGIS by indirect and direct radiography. Therefore, UGIS by indirect radiography may be used as a method of mass screening for gastric cancer.
Barium ; Cardia ; Duodenum ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Photofluorography ; Pylorus ; Radiography* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*

We report a case of epidermolysis bullosa simplex, Dowling-Meara type (EBS-DM), which was associated with congenital pyloric atresia (PA) and various urologic abnormalities, a diagnosis confirmed by immunofluorescence mapping and electron microscopic findings. Immunofluorescent mapping showed the serum from a patient with bullous pemphigoid faintly binding to the floor of the blister, and monoclonal antibodies against type IV and VII collagens were also stained on the floor of the blister. Electron microscopy showed epidermolytic cleavage and prominent clumping of tonofilaments in the basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. An abdominal radiograph and barium swallow showed a complete obstruction at the pyloric channel level. The widespread bullae healed without any scar formation and the bullae formation was localized on the extremities after 3 months of age without any specific treatment. Multiple urologic abnormalities such as bilateral hydronephrosis, hydroureter and a distended bladder with trabeculation were observed at 12 months of age. Currently, with the patient at 4 years of age, bullae still appear on the hands and feet and nail shedding can be observed. The patient's father, a paternal uncle and a paternal aunt had had similar bullous eruptions in infancy, all of which had improved spontaneously by the age of one.
Case Report ; Collagen/metabolism ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex/pathology ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex/metabolism ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex/complications* ; Human ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pylorus*/radiography ; Stomach Diseases/radiography ; Stomach Diseases/complications* ; Urologic Diseases/congenital* ; Urologic Diseases/complications*