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WORLD GASTROENTEROLOGY NEWS SEPTEMBER 2019
Editorial | Expert Point of View | WCOG 2019 | WDHD News | WGO & WGOF News | WGO Global Guidelines | Calendar of Events
World Digestive Health Day 2019
in Karachi, Pakistan
Zaigham Abbas, MD
Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital
Karachi, Pakistan
Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital
Clifton in Karachi, Pakistan organized
a seminar to observe World Digestive
Health Day 2019 with the title of
“Early detection and screening of GI
cancer”. The seminar focused on the
barriers of early diagnosis of gastrointestinal
cancers to timely cures and the
importance of screening and surveillance
among the masses. The program
was attended by the GI community,
medical students, trainee doctors, and
general physicians.
Professor Zaigham Abbas, the Chair
of the Department of Gastroenterology,
welcomed the attendees. Professor
Faisal Ziauddin stressed upon
the screening and early detection of
esophageal and gastric cancers. He
also warned the audience regarding
the rising number of these cancers in
Pakistan.
Dr. Khurram Baqai presented
on different methods of screening
of colorectal cancers, their relative
There was enthusiastic
participation by the
audience in each session.
To make it further
interactive, case based
scenarios were discussed
with the audience regarding
the theme.
significance, and advantage of early
screening in a selected population.
Colorectal cancer is, by far, one of
the cancers that has achieved the
maximum advantage of screening
and surveillance. Colorectal cancer
almost always develops from precancerous
polyps in the colon or rectum.
Screening tests can find precancerous
polyps so that they can be removed
before they turn into cancer. Screening
tests can also find colorectal cancer
early when treatment works best.
Dr. Abbas then elaborated on
surveillance of hepatocellular carcinomas,
explaining difficulties faced in
this area and shed light on the ways
to overcome these difficulties. HCC
is the most common type of primary
liver cancer. It occurs most often in
people with chronic liver diseases,
such as cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B
or hepatitis C infection.
There was enthusiastic participation
by the audience in each session. To
make it further interactive, case based
scenarios were discussed with the
audience regarding the theme.