The present study is a comprehensive retrospective analysis of 1341 gastric neoplasms out of 10 733 individuals subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the main teaching cum referral hospital in the Kashmir Valley. Of these 78% were males and 22% females, majority being in the age group of 41–60 years with 60% of the patients being smokers. On endoscopy, the commonest site of cancer was the body of stomach 40.7%, followed by the antrum 35.5% and the cardiac region 23.8%. Endoscopic features revealed nodular masses 39%, polypoid masses 21%, malignant ulcers 11%, infiltrative masses 12%, rounded tumor masses 9%, linitus plastica 5% and early gastric carcinoma 3%. Histology revealed adenocarcinoma 91%, (including mucoid carcinoma 9%, and schirrous carcinoma 7%), leiomyosarcoma 7%, and reticulum cell sarcoma 2%. No significant association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer was observed in a short study out of these patients. The peculiar geography and some special dietary habits with a possible familial predisposition may have a bearing on the high risk of gastric cancer in the valley.

Gastric cancer is the most frequent gastrointestinal neoplasm in the native population of Kashmir valley situated in the mountains of NorthWest India. The prevelence rate in other population groups in India is much lower. The study is a comprehensive analysis of 850 cases diagnosed in the last five years at one teaching-cum-referral center. Of these, 82% were males and 18% were females; 62% were smokers and 38% were non-smokers; 60% of patients belonged to the age group 41-60 years. Endoscoric appearances were classified as: nodular mass 47%, polypoid mass 20%, malignant ulcer 10%, infilteratfre lesion 8%, rounded tumor mass 8%, linitis plastica 5% and 'early carcinoma' 2%. On histopathological typing; 79% of the lesions were adenocarcinomes, 8% mucoid carcinomas, 8% leiomyosarcomes, 4% schirrous carcinomas, and 1% reticulum cell sarcomas. The possible etiological factors peculiar to the dietary constituents, including the consumption of hot salted tea and of a particular leafy vegetable, are singled out. The genetic factors may have an important role in the etiology of stomach cancer in this high risk group.

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The Schatzki's ring is a narrow annular stricture that radiographically appears as a circumferential membrane or web projecting into the lumen at right angle to the long axis of Ihe lower parI of the esophagus. This report presents two cases of Schatzki's ring situaled almosl mid-esophagus, far proximal from the usual/oealion at the squamo-columnar junction. Such rings in a mid-esophageal location have not previously been reporled in Ihe literature.