Trend of Carcinoma of the Stomach in Relation to Site, Age and Aetiology: Study of 112 Cases in a Tertiary Level Hospital.

Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, but due to its poor prognosis, it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The incidence of carcinoma of gastric cardia is found to be increasing, while that of the antrum is seen to be decreasing. Data from Bangladesh is lacking on this aspect. The objective of this study was to understand the trends of frequency and localization of gastric cancers arising from the gastric cardia, body and antrum of the stomach in population of Bangladesh, which may enable us to identify important high risk populations, prevention strategies, and ultimately best treatment strategies. This cross sectional descriptive hospital record based study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the period of June 2010 to January 2011. Data were collected from hospital records of 112 cases with carcinoma of stomach, confirmed by histopathology, admitted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during January 2007 to June 2010. Data collection, compilation, statistical analyses were performed manually. In this study 54.46% cases are in the age group of 50-60 year, mean age was 57.23 year and standard deviation was 57.37 and the second highest (31.25%) was in the age group of 61-70 year. Incidence of gastric carcinoma predominates in male. In this study 81(72.32%) patients were male and 31(27.68%) patients were female. Male to female ratio is 2.61:1. Majority 80(71.43%) of patients were smoker and 32(28.57%) patients were nonsmoker. Majority of the patients 90(80.36%) came from lower socioeconomic group, 19(16.96%) patients were from middle socioeconomic group and 3(2.68%) patients were from high socio-economic group. There is a link between diet and carcinoma stomach, suggested in various study. Here, 112(100%) took carbohydrate as the staple food. Salt preserved dried fish also was present in a significant number of patients 100(89.29%). Vegetables and fresh fruits were taken by 80(71.42%) patients. Antral region was involved in 65(58.03%) cases. In 28(25%) cases the lesion was in the body of the stomach. Cardiac end of the stomach was involved in only 19(16.97%) cases. Following histopathology, poorly differentiated carcinoma was found in 68(60.71%) patients well differentiated carcinoma in 24(21.43%) and moderately differentiated carcinoma in 20(17.86%) patients. This study found that stomach cancer in Bangladesh showed characteristics which are similar to other nations. As carcinoma stomach is one of the important causes of cancer mortality, and as there is no population based study in our country, further study needed and therefore it remains a major public health concern in need of prevention strategies.