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. 2017;4(3):23-33.
Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Esophageal cancer in Kenya

Joab Otieno Odera  1   2 , Elizabeth Odera  3 , Jessie Githang'a  3 , Edwin Oloo Walong  3 , Fang Li  1   4 , Zhaohui Xiong  1 , Xiaoxin Luke Chen  1   5
Affiliations

Esophageal cancer in Kenya

Joab Otieno Odera et al. Am J Dig Dis (Madison). 2017.

Abstract

Kenya belongs to a high incidence region known as Africa's esophageal cancer (EC) corridor. It has one of the highest incidence rates of EC worldwide, but research on EC in Kenya has gone highly unnoticed. EC in Kenya is unique in its high percentage of young cases (< 30 years of age). In this review, we show the current status of EC in the country. We mainly focus on significant risk factors such as alcohol drinking, genetic factors, malnutrition and hot food/drink. Future directions in the study and prevention of EC in Kenya are also discussed.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; Kenya; alcohol; selenium; zinc.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure of conflict of interest None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Geographic maps showing regions of interest. A: Africa’s EC corridor; B: Map of Kenya highlighting high-incidence regions and hospitals that treat EC. Maps outlines were adapted from: https://clipartfest.com/categories/view/f2a48eb6e7df5a11e1327a2914da4055293c6687/outline-of-africa-map-clipart-without-background.html and http://www.enchantedlearning.com/africa/kenya/outlinemap/.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of EC cases at each age interval in three regions of Kenya compared to Western countries (yellow for Nairobi, pink for Tenwek, purple for Eldoret, black for the UK, and blue for the United States) [3, 6, 7]. UK data are adapted from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/oesophageal-cancer/incidence#ref-1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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