Gastric cancer profile in kashmiri population with special dietary habits.

The present study is a comprehensive retrospective analysis of 1341 gastric neoplasms out of 10 733 individuals subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the main teaching cum referral hospital in the Kashmir Valley. Of these 78% were males and 22% females, majority being in the age group of 41-60 years with 60% of the patients being smokers. On endoscopy, the commonest site of cancer was the body of stomach 40.7%, followed by the antrum 35.5% and the cardiac region 23.8%. Endoscopic features revealed nodular masses 39%, polypoid masses 21%, malignant ulcers 11%, infiltrative masses 12%, rounded tumor masses 9%, linitus plastica 5% and early gastric carcinoma 3%. Histology revealed adenocarcinoma 91%, (including mucoid carcinoma 9%, and schirrous carcinoma 7%), leiomyosarcoma 7%, and reticulum cell sarcoma 2%. No significant association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer was observed in a short study out of these patients. The peculiar geography and some special dietary habits with a possible familial predisposition may have a bearing on the high risk of gastric cancer in the valley.