Endoscopy has minimal impact on mortality from upper gastrointestinal cancer in patients older than 55 years with uncomplicated dyspepsia.

Introduction: The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of endoscopy to detect curable upper gastrointestinal malignancy in patients older than 55 years presenting with uncomplicated dyspepsia.

Methods: A cohort study was performed in North Glasgow Health Trust. One hundred and thirty-one patients older than 55 years of age, diagnosed to have upper gastrointestinal cancer within the North Glasgow Trust between January 1995 and December 1997, identified by the West of Scotland Cancer Registry were included.