[Radiographic examination of the stomach in Greenlanders]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Gastrointestinal health disparities between populations warrant investigation.
• Radiological assessment is crucial for diagnosing stomach and duodenal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of radiological lesions in the stomach and duodenum between Greenlanders and Danes.
• To identify specific gastrointestinal health concerns in the Greenlandic population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of X-ray examinations over a two-year period.
• Inclusion of 135 Greenlanders and 135 Danes for comparative analysis.
• Diagnosis of all radiological lesions, focusing on the esophagus, cardia, stomach, and duodenum.

Main Results:

• Normal findings were observed in 37% of Greenlanders and 51% of Danes.
• Peptic ulcerations were newly diagnosed in 2.4% of Greenlanders over 15 years old.
• The incidence of gastric ulcer (1.5%) and duodenal ulcer (0.9%) was higher in Greenlanders than Danes, though duodenal ulcer incidence was lower than in the Faroe Islands. Esophageal and cardia lesions were notably prevalent in Greenlanders.

Conclusions:

• Greenlanders exhibit a higher incidence of peptic ulcer disease and gastric ulcers compared to Danes.
• The higher prevalence of serious lesions in the esophagus and cardia of Greenlanders necessitates further research.
• Findings suggest unique gastrointestinal health considerations for the Greenlandic population requiring targeted investigation.