Esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular carcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas in Northern Macedonia: A series of patients treated at the University Clinic, between 2015 and 2019

Abstract

<jats:p>Introduction: The global burden of gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is growing. Stomach, colon and liver are among the five most common sites for GIC in men and women worldwide. The incidence of GIC shows significant variation in Europe and North America. Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe hospital morbidity from GI cancer at the University Clinic in Northern Macedonia. Materials and methods: A retrospective longitudinal analysis included a series of cases with GIC, at the University Clinic of Gastroenterohepatology (UCG) in Skopje, in the period 2015-2019. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe hospital morbidity from GIC, and its distribution by age, sex, and cancer site. Results: In a five-year period, a total of 2,831 patients with GIC were treated at the UCG, of which 1,484 patients had colorectal cancer, 763 patients had gastric cancer and 88 patients had esophageal cancer. Although liver cancers were less common, as many as one eighth of such patients (355 or 13%) had nonspecific liver malignancy. Most patients were in the 60-69 age group, with the exception of esophageal cancer. An increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer was observed, almost equal, when considering the distribution by sex, and mainly in the age groups 60-69 and 70-79 years. Conclusion: Hospital morbidity due to GIC in North Macedonia shows an increasing trend, so it is important to determine how much screening has contributed to the early detection of these cancers and to ensure access to and availability of therapy for hepatitis B and C.</jats:p>