The difference between gastrography and gastroscopy mainly lies in the examination method, applicable diseases and applicable people.
1. Examination method: Gastrography is to indirectly reflect the morphological information of the stomach by utilizing the imaging effect of X-rays after oral administration of contrast agents (such as barium sulfate, etc.).
Gastroscopy is to insert the gastroscope from the oral cavity through the esophagus to reach the stomach, to directly observe the lesions of the gastric mucosa, and at the same time, biopsy can also be taken from the suspected parts for pathologic examination.
2. Applicable diseases: Gastrography can determine the movement status of the stomach, such as gastric insufficiency, which can reflect the functional status of the stomach and the emptying status. However, its sensitivity is low, and for early lesions, it is easy to be missed.
Gastroscopy can directly detect gastric mucosal congestion, edema erosion and other injuries, such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric polyps and other diseases, for suspected cancerous tissues, biopsy can also be taken for pathological examination. Gastric biopsy is also the gold standard for diagnosing gastric cancer.
3. Applicable people: Generally speaking, gastroscopy can be considered for patients with symptoms such as unexplained malignancy, acid reflux, abdominal discomfort, etc., or patients suspected of upper gastrointestinal diseases. However, if the patient has severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease or unstable vital signs due to gastrointestinal bleeding, the risk of the examination is high and gastroscopy cannot be performed.
Gastrography is better tolerated and can generally be considered for elderly patients who cannot tolerate gastroscopy.
Patients with bad stomachs are advised to seek timely medical treatment and choose the appropriate examination method under the guidance of the doctor.