Incidence of gastric carcinoma in patients presenting with dyspepsia in tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Context: Gastric carcinoma often present with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms like dyspepsia making its diagnosis difficult and its later detection in an advance stage. To reduce the mortality and morbidity early diagnosis of gastric carcinoma is of utmost importance. Aims: The aim was to detect gastric carcinoma in patients presenting with dyspepsia symptoms for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy and to study the incidence of carcinoma stomach related to factors like age, alcohol and smoking. Design: Surveillance cross section study. Subjects and Methods: Data were collected in all clinically diagnosed cases of dyspepsia undergoing UGI endoscopy at Father Muller Medical College Hospital, with sample size of 119 patients. Multiple (6-8) biopsies from suspected lesions were taken and sent for histopathological examination. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequency, percentage, Chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. Results: Of the 119 patients subjected to UGI endoscopy, 13 (10.9%) of them had gastric carcinoma. Mean age of the patient in the study was 49.76. Majority of the patients were males 58.82% (n - 70) and females were 41.17% (n - 49). Gastric carcinoma was predominantly seen in males - 76% and females - 24%. Alarm symptoms were found present in 53.84% with gastric carcinoma. Gastric carcinoma had strong association with smoking 38.46%, but not significant with alcohol consumption and showed peaking in incidence in the fifth and sixth decade. Conclusions: A high index of suspicion by clinicians and availability of endoscopic facilities may help detect early lesions, especially in elderly patients with alarm symptoms.