Hospital-Based Patterns of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer Cases at a Major Tertiary Referral Center in Kabul, Afghanistan: A Retrospective Case Series

Background: Esophageal and gastric cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with a disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. In Afghanistan, evidence on these malignancies is limited and largely hospital-based. This study aimed to describe the distribution, demographic characteristics, and histopathological patterns of esophageal and gastric cancers diagnosed at a major tertiary referral hospital in Kabul. Methods: This retrospective hospital-based case series included all patients diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cancer at Jumhoriat Hospital, Kabul, between October 2023 and August 2024. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and histopathological data were extracted from medical records. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize findings, and the association between sex and cancer type was assessed using the chi-square test. Results: Out of 3,250 registered cancer cases, 917 patients were diagnosed with esophageal or gastric cancer. Esophageal cancer accounted for 708 cases (77.2%), while gastric cancer comprised 209 cases (22.8%). The highest proportion of cases occurred in the 55–64-year age group for both esophageal (28.2%) and gastric cancers (32.0%). Esophageal cancer showed a relatively balanced sex distribution (53.2% male), whereas gastric cancer was significantly more frequent among males (71.2%) (χ² = 20.75, p < 0.001). Squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant histological subtype of esophageal cancer (70%), while adenocarcinoma was the most common subtype of gastric cancer (81.3%). A high proportion of patients, particularly those with esophageal cancer (85.3%), belonged to a low economic status. Conclusions: This hospital-based case series indicates that esophageal cancer constitutes the majority of upper gastrointestinal cancer cases at a major referral center in Kabul, with both esophageal and gastric cancers predominantly affecting individuals aged 55–64 years. The observed demographic and histopathological patterns are consistent with reports from other low-resource settings and provide important baseline data to inform cancer surveillance and early diagnostic strategies in Afghanistan.