Epidemiologic, Endoscopic and Histopathological Profile of Oesophagal Cancers of a High-Risk Region of Southern Kashmir-India

¹Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India

²Internee TMMC Dhaka, Bangladesh

³Professor/Head Of Department in Department Of Medicine, Government Medical College Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, India

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Ubaid Jeelani, Post Graduate Scholar, Department Of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College Srinagar, New Colony Bijbehara, Anantnag Kashmir-192124, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Tel: 7780939575; Email: [email protected].

Received Date: January 28, 2024

Published Date: February 19, 2024

Citation: Jeelani U, et al. (2024). Epidemiologic, Endoscopic and Histopathological Profile of Oesophagal Cancers of a High-Risk Region of Southern Kashmir-India. Mathews J Case Rep. 9(1):152.

Copyrights: Jeelani U, et al. © (2024).

ABSTRACT

Aim and Background: Kashmir Valley especially its southern region is a high-risk region for upper Gastrointestinal (GIT) cancers. This study, the first of its kind from this region was undertaken to determine the epidemiological, endoscopic, and histopathological profile of oesophageal cancer (OC) from this region. Methods: This multicentric, retrospective, observational hospital-based study was conducted at three government district hospitals of southern Kashmir viz Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian from 2003 to 2022. Patients were subjected to endoscopy using GIF- Olympus Endoscope after overnight fasting of 12 hours. Growths located between 1 and 5cm above the Gastro-Oesophageal junction (GEJ) were taken as oesophageal growths and included in this study whereas growths located from 1cm below GEJ were excluded from this study as they were taken as gastric growths. 4-6 Biopsies were taken from the oesophageal growth and subjected to rapid urease test and histopathological examination. The patient details like presenting symptoms, age, sex, residence, socioeconomic status, dietary habits, smoking habits, ultrasonography findings, endoscopic findings, and histopathological reports were analysed. Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) abdomen/chest wherever available was also done. Results: In our study, there were 1,723 cases of oesophagal cancer, comprising 1,122 males (65.12%) and 601 females (34.88%) in the age group of 35-80 years (median age 61 years). The majority of the patients, 1,354 (78.58%), were in the age group of 45-65 years. A total of 1,335 patients (77.48%) were smokers using either hookah, cigarettes, or both. Additionally, 1,126 patients (65.35%) belonged to a low socioeconomic status. The primary presenting symptom was dysphagia, observed in 1,408 patients (81.71%).H. pylori infection was identified in 323 patients (18.74%) using the Rapid Urease Test. Cervical esophageal growths were observed in 63 patients (3.66%), upper thoracic esophageal growths in 254 patients (14.74%), middle thoracic in 843 patients (48.92%), and lower thoracic growths in 563 patients (32.67%). The most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), observed in 1,136 patients (65.93%), while 587 patients (34.07%) had adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Kashmir Valley, especially its southern province, is a highly prevalent upper GIT cancer region. Lower Oesophageal Cancers are more common in our study population which is primarily squamous cell carcinoma whereas the incidence of adenocarcinoma is also rising. Although the exact reason for this high prevalence is largely unknown, unique food habits, low socioeconomic conditions, smoking, genetic predisposition, and some other unknown factors have an essential role in its pathogenesis.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, Endoscopy,  Oesophageal cancer, Histopathology, Squamous Cell Carcinoma.