INCIDENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL MALIGNANCIES AS DETECTED BY ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION

Sarkis S. Strak*

ABSTRACT

Objective: Since upper and lower gastrointestinal tract malignancies are increasing worldwide, this study was carried out to find the incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies in those patients attending the endoscopic unit at Basrah teaching hospital  for various reasons during 3 years period.

Methods: Among 1651 patients who attended the endoscopic unit for various dyspeptic symptoms and bleeding per rectum sixty patients  who were found to have mucosal lesion suggestive of malignancy were studied, 40 with upper gastrointestinal malignancy, 21 males and 19 females and 20 with lower gastrointestinal malignancies 12 males and 8 females, their ages ranged (27-80 year) and (25-75year) respectively. All patients were subjected for biopsies and brushing cytology.

Results: Three patients were found to have oesophageal carcinoma of squamous type, two with duodenal adeno carcinoma, the other 35 patients were with carcinoma of the astomach almost all with adeno carcinoma of poorly differentiated type which showed an increase in frequency during the year 2008.Lower gastrointestinal tract malignancies were also of adenocarcinoma, the majority involving the rectum followed by sigmoid colon.

Conclusion: Endoscopic awareness of any abnormal mucosal lesion is important and needs to be biopsied and brushed in order to diagnose an early malignant lesion which could be treatable.

*Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Iraq