Oesophageal cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Kenyan perspective

Abstract

Oesophageal cancer is the 8th most common cancer globally with 604100 new cases and 544076 new deaths recorded in 2020.1 The most common variants are oesophageal, adenocarcinoma (OAC) and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).2 The latter is the main variant in Africa and the Far East particularly China and Japan. Trends in higher income countries (HIC’s) show a decline in incidence OSCC and an increase in OAC.3, There is regional variation in incidence of OSCC, male to female ratios are similar in northern African countries but countries in the western, middle, eastern and southern Africa have a male predominance.4,5 Risk factors for OC include smoking, alcohol, smoke exposure from wood or charcoal, poor oral health, consuming red meat, low socio-economic status and nutritional deficiencies like selenium. Risk factors that are specific for OAC include gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity and Barrett’s oesophagus.