Epidemiology and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer--the Nigerian setting in view.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the 5th most common cancer globally and the 3rd most common killer cancer, although in Nigeria it is the 9th most common cancer with a dismal prognosis. AIM: To review the epidemiological and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer in Nigeria in the last two decades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Original articles and review articles published about gastric cancer in Nigeria in the last two decades were reviewed. RESULTS: Most studies that have been done on gastric cancer in Nigeria, and which have been included in this review are hospital-based studies. With the exception of the lower prevalence of the disease and the younger peak age prevalence of gastric cancer in the Nigerian population, the epidemiological and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer are similar to those from other populations. Also, there has been an improvement in the overall survival of gastric cancer in Nigeria over the last three decades. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of gastric cancer in the Nigerian population has remained relatively low over the decades while it continues to share similar mode of presentation with other populations, with some improvement in prognosis.