HISTOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT ENDOSCOPIC BIOPSIES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN RURAL POPULATION IN NORTH INDIA

Background: Upper GI endoscopy when combined with biopsy, the diagnostic accuracy get increased manifold. The objective of the present study is to diagnose the lesions of upper GIT by studying endoscopic biopsies in relation to age and sex distribution, correlating them with presenting complaints. Method: The study included 200 endoscopic biopsies of upper GIT received in the hospital. Result: There were 26 esophageal, 130 gastric, 44 duodenal biopsies. Most patients presented in the age group of 31-40 years with a male- female ratio of 1.94:1 and the most common presenting complaint was pain in abdomen. The neoplastic lesions commonly presented as carcinoma whereas the non-neoplastic lesions presented as inflammatory lesions on endoscopy. Non-neoplastic lesions were found to be common (83.0%) out of which gastritis was the most common lesion.Majority of the lesions of upper GIT were non-neoplastic, presenting with pain in abdomen & inflammatory findings on endoscopy. Lesions were more common in males and in the 31-40 years age group. The most common neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma followed by adenocarcinoma. 4 cases of signet ring cell carcinoma were noted along with a single case of ampullary carcinoma. Conclusion: The conclusion of the study was that histological examination in adjunct with endoscopy should be considered as much more valuable diagnostic tool rather than endoscopy alone.