Por medio de un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo y en un periodo de 6 meses junio l a noviembre 30° de 1998), la unidad de analisis la constituyeron las solicitudes de estudio anatomopatologicos y el informe de anatomia patologica de los laboratorios tanto publicos como privados. Con base a estos resultados se estimo la prevalencia y tipo de neoplasias del tracto gastrointestinal en el departamento de Antioquia. Se encontro una incidencia de 6 x 100.000 habitantes, con una prevalencia por sexo de 7 x 100.000 hombres (172 casos) y 5 x 100.000 mujeres (144 casos). Lo que da una relacion hombre - mujer de 1.2 a 1 respectivamente. Solo en 172 (54.4 %) casos se especifico la edad. De estos, el grupo mas comprometido fue el de 61- 70 anos (26.7%), seguido por el de 41- 50 anos (24.4%), en menores de 20 anos se presentaron 5 casos (2,9%) de los cuales 4 fueron en hombres. En solo 143 casos (45%) se especifico hallazgo endoscopico, el que mas predomino fue el carcinoma (37,7%), seguido por ulcera (35.6%). La lesion neoplasica que mas se encontro fue el adenocarcinoma (85%), localizado principalmente en el estomago (52.8% del total), seguido de cancer (ea) epidermoide (5.6%) (localizado principalmente en el esofago (4.4% del total)), linfoma (2.2%) y otros (7.2%). El carcinoma invasor fue el estadio que tuvo mayor predominio (88.3%), seguido por el in situ (7.4%) y el temprano (4.4%). ABSTRACT A descriptive and prospective study was done in order to determine the prevalence and type 01 gastrointestinal neoplasia in Antioquia, Colombia. The study was carried out during a six month span from June 30, 1996 to November 30, 1996. The information For the study was gathered from Pathology reports from public and private laboratories. A prevalence 016 per 100,000 inhabitants was found [7 per 100,000 males (J 72 cases) and 5 per 100,000 (144 cases) females). The male. female ratio was 1.2 : 1. Age was specified in only 172 cases (54.4%). Within those that were specified the 61 to 70 year - old age group was the most affected (26.7%). The 41d to 50 year - old age group followed with 24.4% of the cases. There were only 5 cases in the less than 20 year - old group lour 01 which were male: 143 cases (45%) had well described endoscopic findings of which carcinoma was the mostlrequentfinding (37.7%). 35.6% of these were ulcers. Adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent in this study comprising 85% 01 the neoplasias found. It was found in the stomach most often (52.8% 01 all the cases). The other findings included Epidermoid cancer (5.6%; found mostly in the esophagus), lymphoma (2.2%), and others (7.2%). As far as staging concerned, invasive carcinoma was found in 88.3% 01 the cases followed by carcinoma in situ with (7.4%). Early stage carcinoma was found in 4.4% 01 the cases.