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Background and Aims: Diagnostic colonoscopy allows exploration of the colonic mucosa. Indications are multiple. The purpose of this work was to describe the indications and to report the lesions observed during colonoscopy at the General Hospital of Douala. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection over a period of 7 years (January 1, 2010 to January 31, 2017). The data collected from the reports were socio-demographic characteristics, indications and lesions observed at colonoscopy. Binary logistic regression allowed us to identify the independent risk factors associated with the presence of tumors and polyps. Results: We included 719 exams. The main indications were rectorrhagia (29.5%), abdominal pain (25.9%) and constipation (17.8%). A colonic lesion was found in 60.1% of cases. A colorectal tumor accounted for 10.3% of cases. Factors independently associated with colonic tumor were complete colonoscopy (aOR: 0.167 95% CI [0.096-0.289], p < 0.001), presence of abdominal or rectal mass (aOR: 13.390 95% CI) [5.684-31.544], p < 0.001) and weight loss (aOR: 5.143, 95% CI [2.450-10.797], p < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence of weight loss, abdominal or rectal mass should motivate the realization of a complete colonoscopy in search of a colorectal tumor. The most observed lesions remain hemorrhoids, polyps and diverticulosis of the colon.

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a major public health problem in Africa, which alone recorded 71% of HIV / AIDS-related deaths in 2018. There is a link between the infection to HIV and the occurrence of certain cancers, in particular digestive cancers. Very little data in Africa, especially Cameroon, exists on the association between HIV and digestive cancers. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of HIV in patients with cancer of the digestive tract as well as the factors related to the prognosis of these patients in Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and analytical study over a 10-year period from January 2010 to December 2019. It was carried out in the general hospitals of the cities of Douala and Yaoundé. We included records of patients with histologically confirmed gastrointestinal cancer. We excluded records of patients with lymphoma or Kaposi’s sarcoma. The data collected were socio-demographic, clinical and paraclinical data. Chi-square test was used to determine statistically significant associations for p <0.05. Results: We collected 294 files, among which 71 had positive HIV serology, either a prevalence of 24.15%. The average age of the patients was 53,7±13,6 years old. The sex ratio was 1.08. The main locations were the colon with 28.7% (N = 20) and the anus with 25.4% (N = 18). At the time of HIV diagnosis, the mean CD4 count at the time of HIV diagnosis was 413,2±189,3/mm3 and the mean viral load was 5129±2786,8copies/mm3. When diagnosed with cancer, the average CD4 count was 287,84±101,7/mm3 and the average viral load was 25385,5±19784,3/mm3. The anal location (p = 0.003), the necrotic appearance (p = 0.001), the poorly differentiated character (p = 0.02) of the tumors and the death of the patients (p = 0.000) were statistically linked to positive HIV serology. Factors associated with the prognosis of HIV positive patients were CD4 count <200 / mm3 (p = 0.002) and the existence of metastases (p = 0.04) Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV in patients with cancer of the digestive tract is 24.15%. The anal location, the necrotic appearance and the undifferentiated nature of the tumors are related to positive HIV serology. Prognostic factors are a CD4 count <200 / mm3 and the existence of metastases.

Introduction: Protein-energy malnutrition is a common complication in cirrhosis. It is a factor of morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of undernutrition in Cameroonian cirrhotic patients. Methodology: this was an analytical cross-sectional study over 04 months from December 15, 2019, to April 15, 2020. It was framed at 04 reference hospitals in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé. Patients with cirrhosis aged over 18 who agreed to participate in the study were included. The data collected were clinical and paraclinical. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), triceps skinfold (TSF), and arm muscle circumference (AMC) were used for nutritional assessment. The associated factors were sought by univariate and multivariate analyses. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results Seventy-five patients agreed to participate in our study. The average age was 56+/-15.8 years with extremes ranging from 18 to 80 years. The male gender accounted for 52% (N = 39) of the patients, i.e. a sex ratio of 1.08. The most common etiologies were viral hepatitis B in 50.67% (N = 38) and viral hepatitis C in 48% (N = 36). The most frequent clinical signs were early satiety (N = 47), ascitis (N = 40), anorexia (N = 37). The mean albumin value was 32.2±8.2g/l. The Child-Pugh score was classified as C in 21.3% (N = 16). The prevalence of malnutrition was 46.6% (N = 35), 60% (N = 45) and 94.7% (N = 71) according to SGA, AMC and TSF respectively. The factors associated with malnutrition are a Child-pugh C score (p = 0.00; OR 10.21 [95% CI: 1.23–53.91]), recent hospitalization for > 5 days (p = 0.03 OR 10.1 [95% CI: 2.7-110.6]), anorexia (p = 0.00; OR 4.3 [95% CI: 2-11.8]), the presence of ascites (p = 0.003; OR 20.7 [95% CI: 5.8–101.2]), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.00; OR 3.3 [95% CI: 0.9–73] and serum creatinine greater than 12mg/l (p = 0.00; OR 4.5 [95% CI: 1.3–10.3]). Conclusion The prevalence of malnutrition during cirrhosis was 46.6%, 60%, and 94.7% respectively according to SGA, arm muscle circumference (AMC), and triceps skinfold (TSF). The factors associated with malnutrition are recent hospitalization (> 5 days), anorexia, the presence of ascites, the Child-Pugh C score, hypoalbuminemia, and high creatinine.