An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides both diagnosis and staging information. Patients should then have computerized tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen, as well as consideration for bone scan if the cancer appears to be more advanced. Positron emission tomography (PET) and CT can be substituted for those two tests and may also be used for restaging postoperatively, in order to guide further treatment recommendations. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often performed at major cancer centers. This procedure provides additional information, including depth of tumor penetration into the gastroesophageal (GE) junction (the junction between the stomach and esophagus) or stomach wall, as well as potential enlarged lymph nodes that may be biopsied. Early stage disease is limited to stomach lining and muscle. Advanced stage disease includes deep tumor penetration through the stomach wall and/or involving nearby lymph nodes. Patients who present with metastatic stomach cancer to the liver or other organs are considered to have stage IV disease, generally incurable.
An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides both diagnosis and
staging information. Patients should then have computerized
tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen, as well as consideration
for bone scan if the cancer appears to be more...
More
Dr. Patrick Maguire answered:An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides both diagnosis and staging information. Patients should then have computerized tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen, as well as consideration for bone scan if the cancer appears to be more advanced. Positron emission tomography (PET) and CT can be substituted for those two tests and may also be used for restaging postoperatively, in order to guide further treatment recommendations. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often performed at major cancer centers. This procedure provides additional information, including depth of tumor penetration into the gastroesophageal (GE) junction (the junction between the stomach and esophagus) or stomach wall, as well as potential enlarged lymph nodes that may be biopsied. Early stage disease is limited to stomach lining and muscle. Advanced stage disease includes deep tumor penetration through the stomach wall and/or involving nearby lymph nodes. Patients who present with metastatic stomach cancer to the liver or other organs are considered to have stage IV disease, generally incurable.An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides both diagnosis and staging information. Patients should then have computerized tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen, as well as consideration for bone scan if the cancer appears to be more... More