Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal tract cancers (UGTC) typically occur after the age of 50, but cases are increasingly reported in younger individuals, often diagnosed late. The aim of this study was to describe the sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of UGTC in patients under 50 years of age in Ouagadougou.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from upper gastrointestinal endoscopies from three healthcare facilities in Ouagadougou. Patients under 50 years old with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer were included. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic characteristics, indications for endoscopy, endoscopic and histological features, tumor locations, and associated lesions.

Results: Out of 13,264 upper digestive endoscopies performed, 32 patients under 50 years old with confirmed hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (UGTC) were included. The average age was 40.1 ± 7.8 years, with a male predominance (62.5%; sex ratio = 1.7). The main indications for endoscopy were epigastric pain (34.3%) and dysphagia (21.9%). Gastric cancer was the most common location (56.2%), followed by esophageal cancer (28.1%). The predominant macroscopic appearance was ulcerativeproliferative. Histologically, adenocarcinoma predominated in gastric cancers, while squamous cell carcinoma was most common in esophageal cancers. All duodenal cancers were non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Conclusion: UGTC in subjects under 50 years old is a reality in Ouagadougou and is often diagnosed late. Earlier use of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in symptomatic young adults could improve diagnosis and prognosis.