부산대학교 도서관

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies. Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is being recognized as a Type I carcinogen for GC and primary gastric lymphoma (PGL), yet many studies especially from the Indian subcontinent do not show any such association. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric adenocarcinoma and to determine the association of H. pylori infection. This prospective study included 50 cases of histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma. A detailed clinical history, physical examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were done in all the cases and mucosal biopsies were taken from the growth and the surrounding mucosa. Rapid urease test (RUT) was done to diagnose H. pylori infection. 50 patients of functional dyspepsia were taken as controls. GC was more common in males (70%). The maximum cases were recorded in elderly persons, mostly from 5th to 6th decades. Anorexia (60%), dyspepsia (54%) and weight loss (24%) were the commonest clinical presentation. Most of the patients presented within 3-12 month of onset of symptom. In majority of cases, the lesion was confined to the antrum (62%) and body (26%) of the stomach. H. pylori infection was more commonly isolated from the antrum. H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with GC as compared to patients with functional dyspepsia. No association was found between H. pylori infection and gastric carcinoma. Probably gastric cancer is multifactorial disease where dietary, genetic and environmental factors play contributing roles.