Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers in Individuals Under 50 in Ouagadougou : Sociodemographic and Diagnostic Aspects

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Résumé

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal tract cancers (UGTC) typically occur after the age of 50, but cases are increasingly
reported in younger individuals, often diagnosed late. The aim of this study was to describe the sociodemographic and diagnostic
characteristics of UGTC in patients under 50 years of age in Ouagadougou.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from upper gastrointestinal endoscopies from
three healthcare facilities in Ouagadougou. Patients under 50 years old with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of upper
gastrointestinal tract cancer were included. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic characteristics, indications for
endoscopy, endoscopic and histological features, tumor locations, and associated lesions.
Results: Out of 13,264 upper digestive endoscopies performed, 32 patients under 50 years old with confirmed hereditary diffuse
gastric cancer (UGTC) were included. The average age was 40.1 ± 7.8 years, with a male predominance (62.5%; sex ratio =
1.7). The main indications for endoscopy were epigastric pain (34.3%) and dysphagia (21.9%). Gastric cancer was the most
common location (56.2%), followed by esophageal cancer (28.1%). The predominant macroscopic appearance was ulcerative
proliferative. Histologically, adenocarcinoma predominated in gastric cancers, while squamous cell carcinoma was most common
in esophageal cancers. All duodenal cancers were non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
Conclusion: UGTC in subjects under 50 years old is a reality in Ouagadougou and is often diagnosed late. Earlier use of upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy in symptomatic young adults could improve diagnosis and prognosis

Mots-clés

Upper gastrointestinal neoplasms, Gastric cancer, Esophageal cancer, Young adults, Burkina Faso