Abstract
Background and Objectives: Esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancers are the most common recorded cancers in the East Azerbaijan province. Because of the high incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies in this province and with considering the variety of cultural and geographic situations, we decided to calculate and compare the age-adjusted standardized rates of these cancers in different cities of the province.
Methods and Materials: From March 2006 to 2007 in a cross-sectional study, all new cases of gastrointestinal malignancies diagnosed in different teaching hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, all those receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or registered in different endoscopic center, pathology laboratory as gastrointestinal malignancy were collected and recorded in above period. We also entered those patients who died and those who started to receive opiate analgesic in offer mentioned period.
Results: In this year a total number of 1346 patients, 398 patients had esophageal cancer (male220/398, 55.3% and female 178/398, 44.7%), 612 patients had gastric cancer (male 436/612, 71.2% and female 186/612, 28.8%) and 337 patients had colorectal cancer (male187/337, 55.4% and female 150/337, 44.6%). In those with gastric cancer, male to female ratio was 2.49 and the mean age of the males was significantly higher than females (P<0.0001). Gastric cancer with the age-adjusted standardized rates of 25.99 per 100000 of males and esophageal cancer with 11.65 per 100000 of females were the most common gastrointestinal malignancies. We found that, Ahar had the highest incidence rate of esophageal and gastric cancer. While, Tabriz and Sarab had the higher incidence rate of colorectal cancer.
Conclusion: Because of high incidence of gastrointestinal malignancies among Azerbayjanian people, there is a continues need for future studies in term of genetic susceptibility, geographical condition, cultural factors and nutritional habits.