Retrospective review of epidemiological, pathological and clinical features of colorectal cancer diagnosed by colonoscopy at King Hussein Medical Center

Abstract EN

Objective: to find out different characteristics and variables of patients diagnosed as colorectal cancer at King Hussein Medical Center.

Methods : A total of 204 cases of colonic cancer patients aged 16 years or more were identified over 4 year-period between January 2006 and December 2009 were reviewed at King Hussein Medical Center.

The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their age; those < 55 years, and those > 55 to compare the study variables between the two age groups.

Results : Seventy five (37 %) patients with colonic cancer aged under 55 years and 129 (63 %) were 55 years or older.

Colonic cancer was more common in men at both age groups than that in women.

Localized disease was more common in the young age group.

Left side colonic cancer was the most common in both age groups.

Nodal involvement was almost similar in frequency in both age groups.

Distant metastases were more common in the old age group > 55 years.

At diagnosis, 48 (23.5 %) of patients had advanced cancers (stage D) with either nodal or distant metastases.

Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was the most common histological finding.

Surgery was undertaken on 134 (65.7 %) patients, with a postoperative mortality of 2 (1.5 %) patients.

Anti-cancer chemotherapy was given to 91 (44.5 %) patients and radiotherapy was used in 7 (3.4 %) patients.

Eleven (5.3 %) patients received chemo-radiotherapy and 20 (9.1 %) patients received the three modalities of treatment.

Conclusion : this study showed that; the frequency of colonic cancer increases with age, at the same time there is a considerable number of patients diagnosed at young age.

It is common in our patients with colorectal cancers to present with advanced disease.

Colorectal cancer in our group of patients had more aggressive pathological features at presentation in the young age group.

Earlier diagnosis of these cancers could well serve as an achievable solution and may improve survival.