Pattern of gastrointestinal malignancies in a suburban centre in Southern Nigeria

Background: Recent studies in sub–Saharan Africa have suggested an increasing incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies which consequently poses significant public health burden in terms of morbidity and mortality.Objective: This study was carried out to assess the distribution, clinical presentation, and histopathological characteristics of gastrointestinal malignancies in a tertiary health centre in Southern Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective review of all patients with histologic diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy in a tertiary health institution in Southern Nigeria between January 2013 and December 2022.Results: A total of 104 patients were included in the study. There were 64 males and 40 females with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1 and the peak age group was 41-50 years. The commonest sites affected were the colon and rectum (63.5%), followed by the stomach (22.1%). Adenocarcinoma was the predominant type of gastrointestinal malignancy, comprising 87.5% of the cases with most of them well differentiated. Others included sarcoma (6.7%), squamous cell carcinoma (1.9%), neuroendocrine tumour (1.9%), lymphoma (1%), and plasmacytoma (1%).Conclusion: Colon and rectal cancers were the predominant gastrointestinal malignancies with a male preponderance, and individuals between 41-50 years, who constitute the bulk of the country’s workforce, were more affected. It is imperative to develop strategies aimed at reducing the incidence and fatality.