IMPROVED ABRASIVE BALLOON FOR DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRIC CANCER

The abrasive gastric balloon¹technique has assumed a place in the diagnosis of gastric cancer because it secures many gastric cells in a good state of preservation. Because of the abrasive balloon test, lesions of the stomach are no longer inaccessible, and the diagnosis of these lesions becomes not only interesting but rapid and reliable. The purpose of this paper is to advance the procedure for general availability.

APPARATUS

The apparatus needed for the abrasive gastric balloon test is easily assembled. The balloon is a thin latex rubber condom 20 cm. long. The surface of the improved balloon is made abrasive by attaching with rubber cement 75 to 100 small, round, 3 mm. fragments of foamed latex rubber. The fragments of foamed latex rubber are arranged in a regular pattern 1 cm. apart. This balloon system has some advantages over that originally reported in that it is made entirely