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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Mar 15, 2026; 18(3): 117278
Published online Mar 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.117278
Published online Mar 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.117278
Cost-effectiveness of sponge cytology test vs endoscopy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma screening in high-risk areas
Yu-Si Xu, Ye Gao, Yun-Fei Jiao, Chu-Ting Yu, Wei Wang, Ting-Lu Wang, Chu Chu, Han Lin, Lei Xin, Luo-Wei Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Jin-Fang Xu, Department of Health Statistics, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
Co-first authors: Yu-Si Xu and Ye Gao.
Co-corresponding authors: Lei Xin and Luo-Wei Wang.
Author contributions: Xu YS and Gao Y contribute equally to this study as co-first authors; Xin L and Wang LW contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; Xu YS, Gao Y, and Jiao YF were responsible for concept and design; Xu YS, Wang W, and Wang TL were responsible for data acquisition; Xu YS and Yu CT were responsible for data analysis; Xu YS, Chu C, and Lin H were responsible for statistical analysis; Xu YS and Gao Y were responsible for manuscript preparation and editing; Lin H, Xu JF, Xin L, and Wang LW were responsible for manuscript review; all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82370677.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Corresponding author: Luo-Wei Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, No. 168 Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200433, China. wangluoweimd@126.com
Received: December 4, 2025
Revised: December 30, 2025
Accepted: January 22, 2026
Published online: March 15, 2026
Processing time: 99 Days and 0.4 Hours
Revised: December 30, 2025
Accepted: January 22, 2026
Published online: March 15, 2026
Processing time: 99 Days and 0.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study is the first economic evaluation of a minimally invasive sponge cytology screening strategy in areas at high risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We found that both endoscopic and sponge cytology screening programs were highly cost-effective compared with no screening. Among all evaluated strategies, annual sponge cytology screening provided the greatest health benefits at the most favorable cost-effectiveness, indicating that it may represent an optimal population-based screening approach for ESCC in high-risk regions.