As ultrasound (US) is less invasive and relatively easy to perform, it is widely used for oppotunistic cancer screenings and health checkups. It is also reported to be useful in early detection of carcinomas.

 However, standard procedures for US screenings, standardized criteria for US findings and standardised assesments have not been definitely specified previously. Therefore, accuracy and efficacy of US screening have not been evaluated previously.

 In 2014, the Japanese Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer Screening, the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine and the Japan Society of Ningen Dock have cooperated to publish the Manual for Abdominal Ultrasound in Cancer Screening and Health Checkups aiming to improve quality and evaluate efficacy of US screenings. The manual is composed of standard prodcedures, categorarized criteria and assesments.

 As categorarized criteria are determined in accordance with US findings, decision of adequite assessments is easy even for assesing physicians who are not majoring in US screenings.

 On the other hand, the mannual has some tasks to be resolved. As to the standard prceduers, operator's skill and recording sections are most important to improve and homogenize quality of US screenings. So, exemplary sections to be recorded and scanning maneuvers should be specified.

 Insufficient definition and classification of US findings and operators unaccustomed to categorized criteria may cause disadvantages such as false negative and false positive cases. To prevent those disadavantages, continuous revision and guidance for operators are essenntial.

 Furthermore, undergoing objective evaluations for scanning and diagnostic skills by third-party will also contribute to not only enhancing the accuracy of US screenings but developing reliable and excellent institutes.