Raees Abbas Lail, Ehsan Ullah, Ijaz Alam.
Reports of gastrointestinal cancers at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur Pakistan.
Biomedica Jan ;28(1):23-7.

Background and Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are amongst the common tumours showing a rise in incidence globally. This study aims to establish the pattern of gastrointestinal malignancies in southern Punjab – Pakistan. This is a retrospective tumour record data analysis based upon histopathology. It was carried out from January 2004 to December 2006 at the Department of Pathology, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College / Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur – Pakistan. Methods: Data of all the biopsy proven malignancies of gastrointestinal tract was retrieved from individual case files from the record of Pathology Department. The epidemiological data was reviewed and analysed for the site of involvement, age, sex and the histological types of cancers. Results: During 3 years of study a total of 151 patients were diagnosed having gastrointestinal (GI) tract malignancies. One hundred two males and 49 females were affected (M:F ratio 2.1:1). Majority of the cancer stricken patients in our population were relatively young, falling in the age range of 45 – 65 years. Colorectal carcinomas were most frequent (35%), followed by oesophagus (13.9%), liver and bile ducts (11.9%), stomach (11.2%), gall bladder (5.2%), tongue (4.6%), pancreas (3.9%), small intestine (3.3%), and lip (2.6%) malignancies. One case of malignant tumour of the appendix in a male was also found. Conclusion: Colorectal cancer is the commonest GI tumour reported in south Punjab – Pakistan. Cases less than 25 years of age were more frequent and peak incidence was in a younger age group in our population when compared to different Western studies. Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma were the most frequent histological subtypes in colon and rectum, oesophagus and liver respectively.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com