Endoscopic and Histologic Findings in Oesophageal Masses in a Tertiary Hospital Northwestern Nigeria: A Five Year Review

Background: Oesophageal masses, including cancers, are serious gastrointestinal conditions diagnosed and studied using endoscopic and histologic techniques to confirm. Objectives: To analyze and evaluate the endoscopic and histologic findings in oesophageal masses over a five year period. Methodology: This was a 5-year retrospective study of all patients with endoscopic and histologic diagnosis of oesophageal masses as seen at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto between January 2017 and December 2022. Results: The age range was 41-70, mean of 57.26±1510years and Male: Female ratio of 1.62: 1. The commonest indications were dysphagia and weight loss accounting for 64.7%. About half of the masses were located in the mid oesophagus, 50% were Squamous cell carcinoma, 8(23.5%) and Adenocarcinoma, 7(20.6%). Cigarette smoking as a risk factor was seen in only 2 (11.8%). Alcohol was not a recognized risk factor. Majority of the masses were located at the upper and mid oesophagus were squamous cell carcinoma and none was adenocarcinoma. Two-thirds of the masses seen at the lower oesophagus were histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma. The overall results were statistically significant (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Oesophageal masses during the period of the study were seen among patients over the age of 41 years, male gender predominated, dysphagia and weight loss were the most common clinical presentations. Mid oesophagus accounted for the majority of the masses and squamous cell carcinoma the predominating histologic type. Adenocarcinoma was seen dominating the lower esophagus.