Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of esophageal sponge cytology in screening esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods From May 2021 to June 2022, an opportunistic screening was performed in people aged 40–75 from a high‐risk region for ESCC. Using an esophageal...

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Main Authors: Shu Huang, Xuexiang Gu, Hailang Zhou, Yadong Feng, Ruihua Shi, Wei Wang, Aijun Zhou, Jie Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70467
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author Shu Huang
Xuexiang Gu
Hailang Zhou
Yadong Feng
Ruihua Shi
Wei Wang
Aijun Zhou
Jie Lin
author_facet Shu Huang
Xuexiang Gu
Hailang Zhou
Yadong Feng
Ruihua Shi
Wei Wang
Aijun Zhou
Jie Lin
author_sort Shu Huang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of esophageal sponge cytology in screening esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods From May 2021 to June 2022, an opportunistic screening was performed in people aged 40–75 from a high‐risk region for ESCC. Using an esophageal cell collector that was independently developed in China for esophageal sponge cytology, a positive cytology was determined as detection of atypical squamous cells or more severe lesions. The safety, tolerability, and accuracy of esophageal sponge cytology were compared with those of pathological examination after endoscopy and biopsy. Results A total of 1581 eligible participants were involved in the screening program, including 61 (3.86%) with high‐grade lesions pathologically confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. No serious adverse events were reported during sampling. Major adverse events included vomiting during sampling (n = 2, 0.13%) and sore throat after sampling (n = 36, 2.27%). The majority of participants showed good tolerability and accessibility (n = 1568, 98.80%) accessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS). Esophageal sponge cytology offered a satisfactory diagnostic accuracy in screening advanced esophageal epithelial lesions, with a sensitivity of 98.36% (95%CI: 90.02%–99.91%) and a specificity of 91.15% (95%CI: 89.97%–92.84%), and a negative predictive value up to 99. 92% (95%CI: 99.53%–99.99%). Conclusion Esophageal sponge cytology is a highly feasible, safe, and accurate screening method for ESCC in a high‐risk region of China. Trial Registration First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University: NCT04609813
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spelling doaj-art-61eb365910e64b2eb435af7dcaf67ba52025-08-20T03:27:10ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-02-01143n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70467Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of ChinaShu Huang0Xuexiang Gu1Hailang Zhou2Yadong Feng3Ruihua Shi4Wei Wang5Aijun Zhou6Jie Lin7Department of Gastroenterology Lianshui People's Hospital Affiliated to Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University Huai'an ChinaCancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University Nanjing ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology Lianshui People's Hospital Affiliated to Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University Huai'an ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University Nanjing ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University Nanjing ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology Lianshui People's Hospital Affiliated to Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University Huai'an ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology Lianshui People's Hospital Affiliated to Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University Huai'an ChinaCancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University Nanjing ChinaABSTRACT Objective To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of esophageal sponge cytology in screening esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods From May 2021 to June 2022, an opportunistic screening was performed in people aged 40–75 from a high‐risk region for ESCC. Using an esophageal cell collector that was independently developed in China for esophageal sponge cytology, a positive cytology was determined as detection of atypical squamous cells or more severe lesions. The safety, tolerability, and accuracy of esophageal sponge cytology were compared with those of pathological examination after endoscopy and biopsy. Results A total of 1581 eligible participants were involved in the screening program, including 61 (3.86%) with high‐grade lesions pathologically confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. No serious adverse events were reported during sampling. Major adverse events included vomiting during sampling (n = 2, 0.13%) and sore throat after sampling (n = 36, 2.27%). The majority of participants showed good tolerability and accessibility (n = 1568, 98.80%) accessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS). Esophageal sponge cytology offered a satisfactory diagnostic accuracy in screening advanced esophageal epithelial lesions, with a sensitivity of 98.36% (95%CI: 90.02%–99.91%) and a specificity of 91.15% (95%CI: 89.97%–92.84%), and a negative predictive value up to 99. 92% (95%CI: 99.53%–99.99%). Conclusion Esophageal sponge cytology is a highly feasible, safe, and accurate screening method for ESCC in a high‐risk region of China. Trial Registration First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University: NCT04609813https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70467diagnosisesophageal high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasiaesophageal sponge cytologyesophageal squamous cell carcinomascreening
spellingShingle Shu Huang
Xuexiang Gu
Hailang Zhou
Yadong Feng
Ruihua Shi
Wei Wang
Aijun Zhou
Jie Lin
Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
Cancer Medicine
diagnosis
esophageal high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia
esophageal sponge cytology
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
screening
title Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
title_full Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
title_fullStr Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
title_full_unstemmed Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
title_short Application of Esophageal Sponge Cytology in Screening Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a High‐Risk Region of China
title_sort application of esophageal sponge cytology in screening esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a high risk region of china
topic diagnosis
esophageal high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia
esophageal sponge cytology
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
screening
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70467
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