Stomach Cancer Diagnosis

Winship has a team of radiologists and pathologists dedicated solely to gastrointestinal cancers, meaning we are experts in stomach cancer diagnosis and staging. But we don’t stop there. We go further to analyze your cancer on a molecular level to determine exactly what’s driving it — so we can figure out the best way to stop it. Because your stomach cancer is unique, your treatment plan should be too.

People who come to Winship are often anxious to move forward with treatment, but getting a full and precise stomach cancer diagnosis is critical to building a proper treatment plan — and it won’t take long, we promise. At Winship, we take a multi-stage approach to ensure every patient gets a thorough and accurate stomach cancer diagnosis. Because no two stomach cancers are the same — even those in the same stage and location — your cancer will differ from every other patient’s. And it’s imperative we understand your cancer to treat it effectively.

Diagnostic imaging. At Winship, we use the latest diagnostic imaging technology available, including computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to check for stomach cancer. And with a team of highly skilled radiologists who specialize in reading images of gastrointestinal cancers, we have the technology and the expertise to make a precise stomach cancer diagnosis and determine the extent of your disease.

Endoscopic ultrasound. During this exam, an interventional gastroenterologist inserts a long, flexible ultrasound probe into the stomach via the mouth. The ultrasound provides the physician a real-time look at the stomach to check for tumors and collect samples (biopsy) to be tested in the lab for the presence of cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound is highly effective for stomach cancer diagnosis but requires a level of expertise not typically available at community cancer centers.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). The highly skilled interventional gastroenterologists at Winship can also remove some stomach cancer, without the need to undergo additional surgical resection of part or all of the stomach. It’s important to receive this procedure at a center like Winship that performs a lot of these exams.

Molecular pathology. If your tumor is determined to be cancerous, our molecular pathologists will conduct genomic profiling to look at the DNA inside your tumor to identify any genetic mutations and biomarkers, or cell characteristics. Winship scientists, genomic and tumor sequencing experts will analyze what’s driving your particular cancer and then work with your oncologists to determine which types of treatment will be most effective against it.