Experience with gastric cancer in baghdad teaching hospital .

Abstract AR

Back ground : The aim of the study was to assess the following points among the patients with gastric cancer admitted to the surgical wards in Baghdad Teaching Hospital: sex and age distribution, mode of presentation, results of endoscopic findings, histopathology, risk factors, tumor staging, and treatment options.

Methods: A prospective study was done in Baghdad Teaching Hospital for a period of three years from (January 1998-December 2000).

Fifty cases with biopsy proven gastric cancer were assessed.

The above mentioned points were analysed.

Results: The male to female ratio was 1.4:1.

Peak age incidence was 50-60 years.

Non-specific symptoms such as vague epigastric pain, dyspepsia, anorexia, and weight loss were the most common symptoms.

The esophagogastric junction was the commonest site.

The polypoid type was the commonest endoscopic finding (44%).

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy was the most accurate method of diagnosing gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histopathological type (96%).

Cigarette smoking was the predominant risk factor (64%).

In the majority of the patients, the disease was well advanced and curative measures were not possible.

Conclusion: Gastric cancer remains a significant problem in Iraq where it leads the list of gastrointestinal malignancies.

No age group of either sex can be exempted.

Late presentation is a stigma of the disease, and the gloomy prognosis can only be improved by early detection based oh a more vigorous diagnostic approach following a high index of suspicion in individuals at risk.