Gastric Cancer Presentation and Surgical Intervention Patterns at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital

Gastric cancer presents a growing oncological challenge in Nigeria, with most cases identified at advanced stages due to limited access to endoscopic diagnostic services. This study describes the pattern of presentation, operative findings, and short-term surgical outcomes of gastric cancer patients managed at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Borno State, North East Nigeria, between 2019 and 2023. A retrospective review of 75 histologically confirmed gastric cancer cases was conducted using clinical records. Data captured included patient demographics, symptom duration, tumour location and histology, surgical intervention, and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were applied. The majority of patients were male, aged 50 to 70 years, and presented with epigastric pain, weight loss, and vomiting of prolonged duration exceeding 9 months. Advanced-stage disease (T3 and T4) was documented in 78% of patients. Palliative gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy was the most common surgical intervention. Postoperative complications included anastomotic leak, pneumonia, and sepsis. In-hospital mortality was 17%. The study recommends gastric cancer screening programs targeting high-risk groups in North East Nigeria and investment in endoscopy services at regional hospitals to enable earlier diagnosis and curative resection. Keywords: gastric cancer, gastrectomy, oncology, Maiduguri, North East Nigeria