[Stomach cancer: Epidemiological, clinical and histological aspects at the Lome Campus teaching hospital (Togo)].

PURPOSE

To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and histological aspects of stomach cancer in the gastroenterology department of University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo).

METHODS

This retrospective descriptive and analytical study reviewed records of patients hospitalized for stomach cancer over an 8-year period.

RESULTS

With 32 cases among the 250 gastrointestinal tract cancers over the study period, stomach cancer accounted for the largest proportion (12.8%) of these cases. The sex ratio was 2.5 and the mean age of patients was 58.82 years (range: 32 to 85 years). The clinical picture was dominated by epigastric pain (44%). Ulcerative budding lesions were most common, especially in the pyloric antrum (72%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type (94%). Thirteen of our patients were transferred to the visceral surgery department for palliative care. Nine more were lost to follow-up after release against medical advice due to lack of financial support. Five patients died (16%) during hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Stomach cancer is common in Togo and ranks first among gastrointestinal cancers in our department. Training hepatogastroenterologists and providing adequate technical facilities, on the one hand, and early recognition of warning signs and a reduction in the cost of gastrointestinal endoscopies, on the other, could improve the survival of patients with gastric cancer in Togo.