GASTRIC CANCER

Question 1

WHAT IS GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 1

Arise from gastric mucosa as adenocarcinomas

Question 2

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 2

1) Male
2) Helicobacter pylori infection
3) Increasing age
4) Smoking

Question 3

WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 3

1) Dyspepsia
2) Dysphagia
3) Early satiety
4) Vomiting
5) Melena- black faeces due to upper GI bleed

Question 4

WHAT IS FOUND ON EXAMINATION OF GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 4

1) Epigastric cancer

Question 5

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS FOR GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 5

1) Peptic ulcer disease
2) GORD
3) Gallstone disease
4) Pancreatic malignancy

Question 6

WHAT ARE THE INVESTIGATIONS FOR GASTRIC CANCER?

Answer 6

1) Laboratory tests - FBC (anaemia at later stages), fecal occult blood test, LFTs
2) rapid urease test (presence of H.pylori)
3) Imaging - urgent upper GI endoscopy with biopsy
4) Staging- CT chest-abdomen-pelvis and staging laparoscopy