Pattern of gastrointestinal malignancies in a suburban centre in Southern Nigeria

Recent studies in sub-Saharan Africa have suggested an increasing incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies which consequently poses significant public health burden in terms of morbidity and mortality.

This study was carried out to assess the distribution, clinical presentation, and histopathological characteristics of gastrointestinal malignancies in a tertiary health centre in Southern Nigeria.

A retrospective review of all patients with histologic diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy in a tertiary health institution in Southern Nigeria between January 2013 and December 2022.

A total of 104 patients were included in the study. There were 64 males and 40 females with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1 and the peak age group was 41-50 years. The commonest sites affected were the colon and rectum (63.5%), followed by the stomach (22.1%). Adenocarcinoma was the predominant type of gastrointestinal malignancy, comprising 87.5% of the cases with most of them well differentiated. Others included sarcoma (6.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (1.9%), neuroendocrine tumour (1.9%), lymphoma (1%), and plasmacytoma (1%).

Colon and rectal cancers were the predominant gastrointestinal malignancies with a male preponderance, and individuals between 41-50 years, who constitute the bulk of the country's workforce, were more affected. It is imperative to develop strategies aimed at reducing the incidence and fatality.