Why Early Cancer Screening Matters
The difference between early-stage and late-stage cancer diagnosis can be the difference between a cure and a life-threatening illness. For gastrointestinal cancers — including stomach, colorectal, and esophageal cancer — endoscopic screening is the most powerful tool available for detecting cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage. In many cases, early-stage lesions can be removed entirely through the endoscope, avoiding the need for major surgery. Shanghai's Zhongshan Hospital endoscopy center, led by Professor Zhong Yunshi, is one of China's premier facilities for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.
What Is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) is passed into the body to visualize the interior of the digestive tract. The two most common types are:
- Gastroscopy (upper endoscopy) — examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
- Colonoscopy — examines the entire colon and rectum
Advanced endoscopic techniques available at Zhongshan Hospital include chromoendoscopy, narrow-band imaging (NBI), magnification endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and ERCP.
Conditions Detected & Treated
- Early gastric cancer — detected before invasion beyond the mucosa; highly curable with endoscopic resection
- Early esophageal cancer — including squamous cell carcinoma and Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia
- Early colorectal cancer and polyps — adenomatous polyps removed before malignant transformation
- Submucosal tumors — GI stromal tumors (GIST), carcinoids, lipomas assessed and removed endoscopically
- Bile duct stones and strictures — managed via ERCP
- Pancreatic cysts and tumors — assessed via endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- Upper GI bleeding — diagnosed and treated endoscopically with hemostasis techniques
- Achalasia and esophageal strictures — treated with per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) or balloon dilation
Who Should Be Screened?
Endoscopic screening is recommended for:
- Adults aged 40 and above in high-risk regions (East Asia) for gastric and colorectal cancer
- Individuals with a family history of GI cancers
- Patients with known H. pylori infection or chronic gastritis
- Those with a history of colorectal polyps
- Patients with symptoms such as persistent indigestion, blood in stool, or unexplained weight loss
- Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (increased colorectal cancer risk)
- Anyone seeking a comprehensive health check in Shanghai
Advanced Endoscopic Procedures
Zhongshan Hospital's endoscopy center offers the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures:
- Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) — en-bloc resection of early gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers; avoids open surgery with excellent cure rates for T1 lesions
- Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) — for smaller flat or sessile polyps and early mucosal lesions
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) — high-resolution imaging of the GI wall layers and adjacent structures; essential for tumor staging and pancreatic assessment
- EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) — tissue sampling of pancreatic masses, lymph nodes, and submucosal tumors
- ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) — diagnosis and treatment of bile duct stones, strictures, and pancreatic duct disease
- Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) — minimally invasive treatment for achalasia via the endoscope
- Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) — for deeper GI lesions not amenable to standard ESD
- Capsule endoscopy — swallowable camera pill for small bowel visualization
- Chromoendoscopy and NBI — enhanced imaging to detect subtle mucosal abnormalities
Why Get Screened in Shanghai?
- Zhongshan Hospital's endoscopy center performs thousands of procedures annually, with one of the highest ESD volumes in China
- Professor Zhong Yunshi is a nationally recognized expert in advanced therapeutic endoscopy and early GI cancer detection
- State-of-the-art endoscopy suites with the latest Olympus and Fujifilm imaging systems
- Same-day or next-day appointments available for international patients through CMCS
- Comprehensive health screening packages combining gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and imaging at a fraction of Western costs
- All procedures performed under sedation for patient comfort
Our Specialist
Professor Zhong Yunshi (钒芗诗) — Chief of Endoscopy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Professor Zhong is one of China's leading therapeutic endoscopists, with particular expertise in ESD for early GI cancers, ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound. She has trained numerous endoscopists across China and has published extensively on early cancer detection and endoscopic resection techniques.
How CMCS Can Help
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) makes it simple for international patients and expatriates to access world-class endoscopic screening and treatment at Zhongshan Hospital. We coordinate your appointment scheduling, pre-procedure preparation guidance, sedation arrangements, medical interpretation during the procedure, and post-procedure follow-up — including pathology result review and specialist referral if needed.
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