Gastric cancer for young adults: Case series of three cases

Amisi Mangaza; Bwemere Mungwete Josué; Byabene Gloire; Balagizi Ganywamulume; Mongwa Justin; Alumeti Munyali Désiré

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108758

Gastric cancer for young adults: Case series of three cases

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023 Sep:110:108758. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108758. Epub 2023 Aug 28.

Authors

Amisi Mangaza¹, Bwemere Mungwete Josué², Byabene Gloire¹, Balagizi Ganywamulume³, Mongwa Justin⁴, Alumeti Munyali Désiré⁵

Affiliations

¹ Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, Evangelical University in Africa, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Surgery Department, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
² Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, Evangelical University in Africa, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Gastroenterology Unit, Internal medicine Department, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
³ Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, Evangelical University in Africa, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Medical Student Research Circle, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Electronic address: fabienbalagizi@gmail.com.
⁴ Surgery Department, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
⁵ Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, Evangelical University in Africa, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Surgery Department, Panzi General Referral Hospital, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Official University of Bukavu, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Pillar of Legal Medicine, Sexual Violence Survivors Program, Panzi General Referal Hospital, Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Research Department, Natural Sciences Research Center, Lwiro, Kabare, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world. It is considered to be the second most common cause of cancer-related death. It is still described as the preserve of people aged over 50. However, it is rarely described in young people. In this study, we report three cases of gastric cancer for subjects under 35 years of age.

Methods: The study was a retrospective single-center non-consecutive case series.

Results: We report three cases of gastric cancer for young people under 35 years old. The consultation reason was chronic pain with a mean evolution of 2.1 years associated with post prandial vomiting. Clinical, biological and prognostic aspects were evaluated. Biopsies in all these patients were consistent with a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The mean age was 28.3 years, with males predominating.

Conclusion: Gastric cancer is generally considered to be a pathology of the elderly, but it can also occur in younger patients. Late consultation for treatment leads to late-stage diagnosis and a poorer prognosis.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Democratic Republic of Congo; Endoscopic biopsy; Gastric cancer; Young people.