Gastric cancer at Gabriel-Toure teaching hospital (Bamako, Mali)

摘要

Gastric cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Mali. Aims: To describe epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of gastric cancer. Method: Our retrospective study from January 1999 to December 2008 covered all patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer in the general surgery department of the Gabriel-Toure teaching hospital, Bamako (Mali). Results: We recorded 342 cases of gastric cancer, which represents 53.7% of digestive tract cancers. Two thirds of the patients were male. The mean age was 51.8 +- 12.9 years (24-98 years). The method used for food conservation was a suspected risk factor. The clinical signs were epigastric pain 91.4%; vomiting 81.6%; loss of weight 96.8% and apalpable epigastric mass in 30.4% of the patients. In 316 patients (94%), cancer was diagnosed at stages TNM III and IV. It was most commonly located in the pyloric antrum, 298 cases (87.1%). The commonest histological type was adenocarcinoma (92.7%); There were 4 cases of malignant lymphoma and 3 stromal tumors were found. Conclusion: Gastric cancer is the most common type of cancer encountered in gastro-intestinal surgery in Mali. Its prognosis remains poor because of delays in diagnosis.