Assessment of the Association between Clinical Examination and Investigations with Outcome in Cases of Abdominal Malignancy

Introduction: Abdominal malignancy is a serious problem in the western world which is presently rising in India due to change in lifestyle. The etiopathogenesis are hereditary, environmental and lifestyle factors. The signs and symptoms vary depending upon the type and stage of cancer. Routine investigations, tumor markers, radiology, endoscopy and biopsy examine patients. There have been advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and palliation but still surgery is curative.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study including all cases of abdominal malignancy presenting to Surgery OPD. The sample size is 46 patients.

Results: Mean age of presentation is 54.63 years. Preoperative abnormal parameters such as CEA, CA 19-9, preoperative biopsy, lymph nodal metastasis on CT and liver metastasis on CT were correlated with outcome which were found to be significant. Operative findings such as site, area, spread outside serosa, lymph nodal metastasis, and liver metastasis were correlated with same in the radio-pathological findings and were found to be significant. Outcome was assessed. Reasons for delay in presentation, diagnosis and treatment were assessed.

Conclusion: Maximum number of patients were in the age group of 41-60 years. There was a definite difference in outcome with reference to preoperative abnormal parameters. There was comparative variation of operative and radio-pathological findings. Study subjects death were due to malignancy as most of them presented to the hospital at advanced stages of malignancy and others dropped out of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and those who took proper treatment had good outcome.