Selected gastrointestinal pathologies in tropical sub-Saharan Africa

Doctors need to be well informed about differences in the presentation of certain diseases in tropical and temperate climates. In this article the characteristics of some gastrointestinal diseases, as they recur in sub-Saharan Africa, are briefly reviewed. Diseases of the stomach--including ulcertaion and cancer--are uncommon in Africa, although duodenal ulcer is common all over the tropics. In contrast, colorectal cancer is an extremely rare illness in sub-Saharan Africa, while hepatocellular carcinoma is much commoner than in Europe or North America and the very high incidence of this tumour in tropical countries is cause for concern.