Opportunistic Gastric Cancer Endoscopic Screening Integrated Into Population-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Retrospective Economic Cost-Comparison Study.

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with prognosis and treatment costs strongly influenced by disease stage at diagnosis. Endoscopic GC screening has been proposed for intermediate-to-high-risk countries, although its economic feasibility remains uncertain. This study evaluated the costs associated with opportunistic GC screening integrated into a colorectal cancer screening programme and compared modeled early-stage management scenarios with the real-world costs of managing Stages II-IV disease.

METHODS

A retrospective cost-comparison study was conducted from the perspective of the Portuguese National Health Service. Screening costs were derived from 377 fecal immunochemical testing-positive individuals undergoing one-time opportunistic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) during colonoscopy within the organized colorectal cancer screening programme, and treatment costs from a retrospective cohort of 222 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Direct medical costs were analyzed according to disease stage and compared with two modeled early-stage management scenarios.

RESULTS

Gastric precancerous conditions were identified in 46.9% of screened individuals, and gastric adenocarcinoma was detected in 0.8% (3/377). The estimated screening cost was €17,249 per cancer detected. Mean treatment and follow-up costs per patient were €32,140 for Stage II disease, €33,073 for Stage III disease, and €19,287 for Stage IV disease. The estimated cumulative cost of screening followed by ESD was €27,624, whereas screening followed by surgical treatment of Stage I disease was estimated at €44,493.

CONCLUSIONS

GC management is associated with substantial healthcare expenditure. The potential economic value of opportunistic GC screening is likely to depend on the detection of lesions amenable to endoscopic treatment.

TRAIL REGISTRATION: NCT07522320.