Clinicopathological profile of gastrointestinal tract malignancies: A retrospective study.

Objectives: Gastrointestinal (GI) tract malignancies are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, making early detection essential for improving outcomes. This study aimed to examine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and trends of GI cancers in a tertiary care setting, with a focus on age and gender distribution, disease presentation, and metastasis patterns at diagnosis. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Medical Oncology over a 2-year period from January 2023 to December 2024, including 178 patients with histopathologically confirmed GI tract malignancies. Data were extracted from medical records and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Among 178 patients, biliary tract cancers were the most frequent (34.26%), followed by cancers of the large intestine (25.28%), esophagus (15.16%), stomach (10.11%), pancreas (8.98%), liver (5.05%), and small intestine (1.12%). The incidence of GI malignancies increased progressively with age; 84% of patients were above 40 years, predominantly in the 41–80 years age group. Males accounted for 57.3% of cases, while females represented 42.7%. The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain, often associated with weight loss. At diagnosis, 57.86% of patients had localized disease, whereas 42.67% presented with metastatic disease. Conclusion: This study highlights the increasing burden of GI tract malignancies in older age groups, with a considerable proportion presenting at advanced stages. Early detection in high-risk populations and greater awareness of early symptoms are crucial to reducing late-stage diagnoses. Public health strategies targeting modifiable risk factors, including dietary habits, tobacco, and alcohol use, are essential to curb the incidence and improve patient outcomes.