Gastric carcinoma: Presentation at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar

Aim: to know the common clinical presentation of gastric carcinoma. methods: this cross sectional study was conducted in gastroenterology unit hmc from january to august 2010. one hundred and thirteen patients of more than 30 years of age and having endoscopic and biopsy proven gastric carcinoma were included in the study. all patients after necessary investigation were prepared for endoscopic examination,upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done and findings were recorded. biopsies of the lesions were taken for histopathological confirmation. results: seventy five (66.4%) patients were males and 38(33.6%) were females. the mean age was 56.02±12.11 years. seventy seven patients (68.1%) had pain epigastrium,75(66.4%) weight loss,64(56.6%) postprandial vomiting,59(52.2%) anorexia,49(43.3%) dyspepsia,38(33.6%) early satiety and 19(16.8%) gi blood loss. anemia was present in 57(50.4%) patients,mass epigastrium in 39(34.5%) and lymph nodes in 13(11.5%) patient. conclusion: gastric carcinoma is a male predominant neoplasm which usually present with pain epigastrium,weight loss,postprandial vomiting,anemia and mass epigastrium.