AN OBSERVATION ON MANAGEMENT OF GASTRIC CANCER AT RAJENDRA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (RIMS), RANCHI. AN EVOLUTION WITH TIME.
Abstract
Background: Worldwide gastric cancer ranks as fourth most common malignancy and second leading cause of cancer related deaths. It constitutes to be a highly lethal disease with an overall survival of 23%for all stages.
Objectives: This was a prospective observational study which was carried out Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand on 80 patients having gastric cancer and a thorough analysis was made on incidence, age sex distribution and different treatment and diagnostic modalities.
Material and Methods: The study comprises observations on 80 patients of gastric cancer admitted in the Department of Surgery of this institution. The cases formed the material of the study. The provisional diagnosis was based on detailed clinical history, thorough physical examinations, routine laboratory investigations and radiological investigations like Barium meal X-ray of stomach and duodenum, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and CT scan of abdomen whenever possible. Most of the patients were treated pre-operatively by gastric lavage, fluids and electrolytes replacement and correction of anaemia followed by elective surgery. The post-operative period was watched carefully and patients were asked to report for follow up.
Results: A total of 80 patients were studied. Maximum number of cases belonged to age group 41-60 years (64%) with 68% being male and belonging to low socio economic status with mainly non vegetarian food style and having addiction for alcohol, smoking or both. Most common symptom associated was vomiting (82.5%) followed by pain. Most commonly antrum was affected and adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histopathological picture encountered.
Conclusion: The study has revealed a brief dynamics of patients being managed for gastric carcinoma. Gastric cancer is more common in distal stomach in this part of our country and adenocarcinoma is the commonest histological type encountered, radical resection is by far the best modality available with a potential to offer cure to those, in whom disease is detected in earlier stages.
Keywords: Gastric cancer, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, gastric ulcer, adenocarcinoma, radical resection.