A socio-demographic study of esophagus carcinoma at a tertiary care hospital of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background: Esophageal cancer incidence rates vary internationally from region to region. Esophageal cancer is usually 3 to 4 times more common among men than women. The present study was carried out to find out the socio-demographic determinants of esophageal cancer in a tertiary care teaching hospital of central part of India. A retrospective study was carried at tertiary care center in rural part of central India for a period of 6years (2007-2013).Methods: A total of 703 patients suffering with different kind of carcinoma were reported at the hospital of which 255 were retrieved as patients having esophageal carcinoma and reviewed. Patient history and profile like habits and socio-demographic records were collected and assessed. Majority of patients was on mixed diet. Out of 703 patients suffering with carcinoma in a specified period of six years, 255 patients had esophageal cancer.Results: Data reveals predominance of males (51.76) over females (48.24). Majority of peoples belongs to remote areas with a history of chewing tobacco, smoking and consumption of alcohols. The present study shows that esophageal cancer constitutes 32.27% of GIT cancer cases reported in research hospital. Dysphagia and loss of weight were very commonly observed symptoms. Ulceration, lumen narrowing, and wall thickening were also assessed in some patients. Mostly lower and middle esophagus was found to have cell growth.Conclusions: It was concluded from the data, that government must take efforts to improve socio-economic status of peoples standing in remote areas so as to potentially reduce the risk factors causing the disease and increase a public awareness among the peoples.