Sociodemographic, clinical and pathological profile of esophageal cancer in a tertiary care center

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly virulent disease with an aggressive clinical course. It is an endemic in many parts of the world, particularly in the developing nations. EC shows one of the widest geographical variations among all malignancies and is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. “Kashmir valley” has a high incidence of EC, which almost parallels the infamous “EC belt” of Central Asia. Squamous cell carcinoma remains the predominant histology of the developing world but over the years, western data suggests an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma. Aim and Objective: To analyze the clinicoepidemiological profile of EC in Kashmir. Materials and Methods: Profile of 345 patients, who presented to our outpatient department between July 2016 and July 2020, was analyzed, in a cross-sectional study with regards to their demographic and clinical profile. Results: EC is still a predominant disease of developing nations, affecting mostly the elderly and rural population. Advanced disease is seen mostly in the population of low socio-economic status and males outnumber females at every stage of the disease. Various demographic parameters seem to affect the presenting stage of the disease. Conclusion: Old age, male sex, and low socio-economic status coupled with peculiar dietary habits within an endemic geographical region seem to be the prime determinants affecting EC prevalence in a given population. Key words: Epidemiology, Esophageal cancer, Incidence, Kashmir valley