Concept and etiology –
Gastric cancer is a condition in which cancer (malignant) cells are
formed in the lining of the stomach region. The disease directly has
an impact on the ear, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal systems.
Gastric cancer can lead to hearing loss, specifically due to the
associated metastasis of the temporal bone (Cao et al., 2016). It can
affect the normal functioning of the nose and create complications. It
can affect any part of the stomach and gastrointestinal systems, such
as the gastroesophageal junction, and hamper its performance (Mayo
Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2021).
Classification –
Gastric cancer can be classified on the basis of genotypes, histologic
features, and molecular phenotypes. The common classifications are
tubular adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell
carcinoma, pseudo-signet ring cells, micropapillary adenocarcinoma,
and in situ signet ring (Hu et al., 2012).
Clinical Manifestations –
The common symptoms of gastric cancer include regular heartburn,
loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, constant bloating, high level of
fatigue, and stomach pain. Some of the signs that can serve as the
indication of the disease include weight loss without trying, feeling
uncomfortable in the abdominal region, blood in the stool, reduction
in red blood cells, and jaundice. The timely identification of the signs
and symptoms is vital to start the treatment.
Diagnostic Tests
The common diagnostic tests that can be done for illuminating the
diagnosis include physical tests, blood tests. For instance, the test for
identifying the presence of H. pylori bacteria can help to diagnose
the condition. Some of the other tests that can also help for
diagnosing the condition include biopsy, an upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy, and imaging tests such as X-rays and CT scans. These
tests can be used by physicians to identify whether an individual is
suffering from gastric cancer or not or whether there exist its signs
and symptoms or not.
References
Cao, X., Cui, F., Wei, J., Wang, Q., Deng, L. C., Liu, B. R., & Shen, W. S.
(2016). Hearing loss due to metastasis of gastric cancer to temporal
bone: A case report. Oncology letters, 11(2), 1305-1308.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, April
27). Stomach cancer. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stomach-cancer/sy
mptoms-causes/syc-20352438.
Hu, B., El Hajj, N., Sittler, S., Lammert, N., Barnes, R., & Meloni-Ehrig,
A. (2012). Gastric cancer: Classification, histology and application of
molecular pathology. Journal of gastrointestinal oncology, 3(3), 251.
