Anatomic categorization of gastrointestinal malignancies using haematoxylin and eosin stains: A 10-year retrospective histopathological study at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Accra

Background: Data on gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies in Ghana are relatively uncommon and are mostly on colorectal cancers. The aim of this descriptive study was to categorize gastrointestinal tract malignancies according to anatomic location and to evaluate the clinico-pathological characteristics of these malignancies. Material and methods: This was a retrospective study in the Department of Pathology from January 2002 to December 2011. Results: A total of 971 gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies were diagnosed in our institution with an annual incidence of 97.1 cases. The mean age of patients was 55.2 years (SD16.1). The common GI malignancies were colorectal 458(47.2%), and gastric 315(32.4%) cancers. Those of the esophagus 91(9.4%), small bowel 41(4.2%), anus 47(4.8%) and the appendix 8(0.8%). The mean ages of the patients with oesophageal, gastric and large bowel cancer were 58.3 (SD12.7), 58.39(SD14.69), and 53.6(SD16.0) years respectively, while those with cancers of the appendix, and small bowel were 37.6 (SD10.9), and 44.5 years (SD18.0). Malignancies of the colorectum 242(52.8%) and anus 26(55.3%), were common in females. The commonest malignancy of the small bowel was lymphoma 14(34.1%). A total of 38(3.8%) of the GI malignancies were gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Conclusion: The distribution of malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract of Ghanaians has been described and it has been found to be similar to that in western nations. The majority of patients were young. Males were the commoner victims. Many of our patients presented with late stage disease with poor prognosis.