Histopathological Profile of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cancers are a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The objective of this study was to analyse the epidemiology, symptomatology and histopathology of gastrointestinal epithelial malignancies in a GI pathology laboratory based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

An observational study was conducted to using the data collected from biopsy specimens, pathology reports, clinical information, and endoscopic reports of patients diagnosed from March, 2017 to December, 2018 in Samyak Pathology Lab (SPL), Kathmandu. Nonepithelial tumors were excluded. Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 365.

Of 203 GI epithelial malignancies, there were 25 (12.3%) esophageal, 81 (39.9%) gastric, 29 (14.3%) duodenal/ampullary, and 68 (33.5%) colorectal carcinomas. Gastric cancer had a mean age of 59.7 years and a male-to-female (M: F) ratio of 2.4. Common symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, and weight loss. The mean age for esophageal cancer was 65.8 years and the M: F ratio was 2.6. Dysphagia was the commonest symptom. Duodenal cancer had a mean age of 57.2 years and an M: F ratio of 1.2. Among these, 17 were periampullary carcinomas, and obstructive jaundice was the most common symptom. For colorectal cancer, the mean age was 54 years, and the M: F ratio was 1.6. Common symptoms included per-rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits.

Gastric cancer was the most common type of gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cancer in this study, followed by colorectal, duodenal/ampullary, and esophageal cancer. There was a male predominance. The rise in colorectal carcinoma points to lifestyle changes as a contributing factor.