title: Gastrointestinal tract cancer: a five year study in a teaching central referral hospital, Ethiopia.
abstract: Due to lack of national cancer registry, the pattern and outcome of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer is unknown in Ethiopia. In the period 1992-1996, a prospective study was carried out in 534 patients with GIT malignant tumours admitted to the Tikur Anbessa Hospital Department of Surgery, Addis Ababa. Relevant data were recorded on a prepared proforma for specific disease. Of these, 437 cases (82%), 142 oesophageal, 68 pancereato-biliary, 96 gastric, and 131 lower GIT cancers have been included in this study. The mean age was 52 +/- 13 (range 17-88) years. The male to female ratio was 1.7:1.0. The mean duration of the presenting symptoms was 10 months. One hundred and thirty-six patients were not operated because of poor clinical performance status or advanced metastatic disease in 105 patients and refusal to undergo surgery in 31 patients. In nearly 50% of 301 operated cases, the tumours were resected. Clinical staging was defined in 269 cases. Of these, 224 (83.3%) were advanced and only 45 were early cancers. The histopathology in 371 cases showed a predominance of adeno and squamous cell carcinomas. An overall postoperative in-hospital mortality rate was 20%. Of the 241 operative survivals (80%), only 110 (46%) had a limited follow-up of 3 to 12 months. Few cases were followed longer. The diagnosis was late and the follow-up was poor. A high index of suspicion of GIT cancer in all age groups will result in earlier diagnosis and improved survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ersumo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis