Vorsorgeuntersuchungen und Check-ups in der Gastroenterologie

Abstract

AbstractDiseases of the digestive tract are frequent and many gastroenterological tumors are characterized by a bad prognosis. Lifestyle changes such as normalization of body weight, physical activity, stop smoking or balanced diets can effectively prevent many gastroenterological tumors. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B, as well as eradication of Helicobacter pylori, are highly effective in avoiding liver infection and reducing the risk for gastric cancer respectively. Colorectal cancer screening using immunological stool tests (iFOBT) and colonoscopy has been proven to be the most efficacious tool in tumour screening at all. As compared to established screening tests, check-ups and their benefit are less well defined. In general, they yield to detect health risks, partially overlapping with the goals of prevention and screening. Gastroenterological check-ups include abdominal ultrasound and esophagogastroduodenoscopy offering a wide range of detecting diseases at potential risks like reflux esophagitis and their complications or aortal aneurysma.