Deck 17: Epidemiology of Stomach Cancer

Question 1

Stomach cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death ranking only behind lung cancer and liver cancer.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

During 2018, 1,033,701 new cases were diagnosed (683,754 in men and 349,947 in women), and 782,685 persons died from stomach cancer (513,555 men and 269,130 women).

Answer 2

True

Question 3

About 70% of the cases and deaths from stomach cancer occur in developed countries.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

In the USA, death rates from stomach cancer have declined by nearly 90% in men and women since 1930.

Question 5

The major reason for the decline in stomach cancer in developed countries is the rapid and widespread escalation of refrigeration since 1900.

Question 6

Considerable experimental evidence suggests that high salt concentration enhances gastric carcinogenesis.

Question 7

Chronic exposure of the gastric mucosa to Helicobacter pylori is known to cause chronic stomach inflammation, and bacterial infiltrates of the organism are commonly found associated with gastric adenocarcinoma and its precursor lesions.

Question 8

From 1925 to 1981, the content of nitrates and nitrites in cured meats in the United States decreased by 75% while gastric cancer mortality rates declined by two-thirds.

Question 9

Cigarette smoking and other forms of tobacco addiction are significant risk factors for the development of stomach cancer.

Question 10

Epidemiologic studies consistently show that high glycemic load increases the risk of stomach cancer.

Question 11

Helicobacter pylori contaminates the gastric mucosa of about what percentage of humans?

A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 75%

Question 12

Chronic infection of the gastric mucosa by Helicobacteri pylori increases the risk of gastric carcinoma by:

A) 2-fold.
B) 5-fold.
C) 10-fold.
D) 50%.

Question 13

The decline of stomach cancer in populations of developed nations has occurred in parallel with all of the following except:

A) increased refrigeration for food preservation.
B) decreased salting and pickling for food preservation.
C) decreased nitrates and nitrates in food.
D) increased rates of tobacco smoking.

Question 14

What form of cancer most commonly arises from the gastric mucosa?

A) Squamous cell carcinoma
B) Adenocarcinoma
C) Sarcoma
D) Lymphoma

Question 15

Which of the following factors does not increase the risk of developing adenocarcinoma near the gastrointestinal junction?

A) Obesity
B) GERD
C) Helicobacter pylori infection
D) Ablation of Helicobacter pylori infection

Question 16

What country currently has the highest rates of stomach cancer?

A) Japan
B) Nordic countries
C) Mongolia
D) Switzerland

Question 17

Genetic factors that predispose to gastric cancer include all of the following except:

A) germ line mutations in the E-cadherin gene.
B) the APC gene.
C) defective mismatch repair genes.
D) Blood Group O.

Question 18

The "unplanned triumph of epidemiology" refers to:

A) the serendipitous discovery of penicillin.
B) improved therapy for advanced stomach cancer by antibiotics.
C) markedly improved sanitation in impoverished populations.
D) the serendipitous decline of stomach cancer rates due to escalation of refrigeration and related preventive factors.

Question 19

Describe the global burden of stomach cancer.

Question 20

Distinguish between cardia and non-cardia adenocarcinoma of the stomach.

Question 21

Discuss reasons for the marked decline in stomach cancer rates in developed nations.

Question 22

Describe the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its importance to human health.

Question 23

Discuss the interaction of risk factors for the different forms of stomach cancer.

Question 24

Discuss genetic factors that increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Question 25

Discuss global strategies for the prevention of stomach cancer.