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Background and objective: The south of littoral of Caspian sea is located on the Asian belt of oesophageal carcinoma, where has the highest incidence in the world. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiologic aspects of patients with oesophageal carcinoma in the north of Iran. Materials and methods: Based on the existing data of medical charts, we conducted a descriptive study of 668 patients with oesophageal carcinoma who referred to Shahid Rajaei Radiotherapy Center in Babolsar during 1993 to 1999. The data was included age, sex, occupation, residence area, and history of alcohol, smoking, drug consumption, anatomic location and histologic type of tumor. We used T-test and Chi-square test in statistical analysis. Results: The mean (±SD) age of 668 patients was 62.8 (±11) years and the modal age group 60-69 years. The mean age of males was significantly greater than females (63.8 vs. 61.2 years, P<0.05) 54.5% of patients were male and 62.1% of males were farmers, 14.5% clerk, and 7% workers whereas 92.4% of females were housewives. Roughly, 0.7% of patients had a history of alcohol consumption, 19.3% smoker and 7.9% drug users and 50.3% of patients were residence of urban area. The most common histologic type of tumor was squamous cell carcinoma (91.3%) and 7% of tumors were adenocarcinoma. The ratio of men to women of adenocarcinoma was 3 to 1 Also squamous cell carcinoma was more common among men than women The relation between the histologic type of tumor and gender was significant (P<0.05). The most common location of squamous cell carcinoma was the upper third of oesophageal (47.1%) and for adenocarcinoma the lower third (86.4%). Also, we observed a significant relation between occupation and the histologic type of tumor. Conclusion: The results indicated that the frequency of oesophageal carcinoma is increased over the age 50 years. The relation of histologic type of tumor with location and gender are consistent with those reported in the other studies in the western countries, which shows the same pattern of epidemiologic aspects of this neoplasm in the world.

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Background and Objective: Esophageal and gastric cancers are among the most common and fatal cancers. These are diagnosed at the latest phase and the prognosis is too poor. Due to the importance and high incidence rate of the upper gastrointestinal cancers in Golestan province, this study was conducted to explore the overall survival rate of these patients in rural area of this region. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 121 pathologically confirmed esophageal or gastric cancers, with rural place of residence, were retrieved from the cancer registry at the health department in Gorgan. After conducting interview with patients or their relatives, analysis of their sociodemographic and clinicopathologic features was performed. The median survival rate was compared regarding age groups and gender using Kaplan-Meier statistical test. Results: Male to female ratio in esophageal and gastric group were 1.2 to 1 and 3.8 to 1, respectively. Short-term survival rates were 54.76% and 26.2% for esophageal cancer and 66.6% and 37.5% for gastric cancer. Collected information regarding patients’ sociodemographic and clinicophathologic factors did not have significant association with patients’ survival in both esophageal and gastric cancers. The mean survival rate in patient with gastric and esophageal cancers according to age and gender was not significant. Conclusion: This study showed that the overall short-term survival rates for upper gastrointestinal cancers are very low in Golestan province. Therefore the need for intervention the need and allocating more diagnosis and therapeutic resources for upper gastrointestinal cancers are required.

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Background and Objective: Golestan province, located in north of Iran has been known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer. The relationship between esophageal cancer and Selenium (Se) has been assessed in previous studies. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between Soil selenium levels and development of esophageal cancer in Golestan province of Iran. Materials and Methods: In this ecologic study, Golestan province in northern Iran was divided into 135 blocks based on geographical altitude and longitude on the map. One Soil sample was collected from the center of each block. Selenium level in Soil samples was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and T-Student tests. Results: The mean±SD of Soil Selenium level in Golestan province was 3.7±1.61 mg/kg. There was a positive correlation between Soil level of Selenium and esophageal cancer rates in this area (P=0.03), (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.19). The Soil Selenium level for high risk and low risk area for esophageal cancer were (4.13 mg/kg) and (3.39 mg/kg) respectively (P=0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that there is high Soil Selenium level in Golestan province in north of Iran. Also it is found to be a significant positive relationship between Soil Selenium level and esophageal cancer rate in this area.