Epidemiological analysis of patients with gastric cancer in Trabzon

Epidemiological Analysis of Patients with Gastric Cancer in Trabzon The number of newly dianosed patients with gastric cancer is about one milion per year in the world. Gastric cancer cause of death due to cancer is located in the second row at worldwide. Gastric cancer in our country continues to be a serious health problem. In this study, we aimed to find out the epidemiological properties (age, sex, risk factors, stage at the time of diagnosis ... etc.) of patients aged between 18-70 years who diagnosed with gastric cancer retrospectively at Karadeniz Technical University Farabi Hospital between 2004-2013. Additionally, we examined the presence and the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, and its effect on the localization of gastric cancer in the last 10 years. All patients were divided into two groups; between 2004-2008 (first 5 years) and 2009-2013 (last 5 years) and compared with each other. According to our results, gastric cancer frequency increases after the age of 50 and has reached the highest level between 50-60 years. The percentage of patients over 50 years was 77% and 68% of all patients were found at stage IV disease. There is a strong relationship between Hpinfection andgastric cancer. Hprelated gastric cancer is often located at the distal side of stomach than the proximal side. In our study, we found a statistically significant relationship between Hp positivity and the distally located, intestinal type gastric cancer. Similarly, we found a statistically significant relationship between intestinal type gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis and/or intestinal metaplasia. Studies show that the decrease of distal gastric cancer incidence was positively correlated with Hp prevelance whereas the insidence of proximal gastric cancer is increased in developed countries. We found that Hp frequency has decreased over the years. In addition, percentage of proximal cancer was found increasing at Hp negative patients in our study. Depending on the increasing prevalence of Hp infection at worldwide, it can be predictedthat gastric cancer localization will displace distal to proximal. According to the data from our study, with the increase of gastric Hp eradication, it was observed increasement in the proximal adenocarcinoma. Therefore, it is very important to determine the indications of Hp eradication. Due to the small number of patients and retrospectively data collection, it is not possible to make clear and explicit comments. Prospective, randomized-controlled studies are needed to demonstrare long-term results of Hp eradication and its relationship with gastric cancer.