Abstract

FERREIRA, Edgar Julián  and  MELENDEZ, Héctor Julio. Clinical, demographic and histopathological characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer at Hospital Universitario de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2012, vol.27, n.3, pp.213-220. ISSN 2011-7582.

Introduction. Colorectal cancer is a common malignant neoplasm whose morbidity and mortality rates induce high social costs. It is well known that the best strategy to deal with neoplasms is prevention and early diagnosis. Materials and Methods. A descriptive study was completed in patients with the histopathological diagnosis of colorectal cancer that were managed and operated on by the General surgery Service at Hospital Universitario de Santander (Bucaramanga, Colombia) between July 2009 and May 2011, taking the data from a predesigned survey. Results. In a total of 36 patients, the average age was 61.5 years; 80% of the patients were operated on urgently. Main symptom was abdominal pain (86.11%). Family history of cancer was present in 22.22% of the patients. The main diagnosis was adenocarcinoma (78.57%) achieved by colonoscopic biopsy. Adenocarcinoma was confirmed in 69.44% of the surgical specimens. Diagnostic approximation was reached in 72% of patients by means of CT scan, 82% with biopsy and 90% with endoscopy. Conclusions. Despite of being a descriptive study, our results appear to be related to a possible lack of opportunity for elective surgery, worsened by the fact that the presentation of colorectal cancer as a surgical emergency usually corresponds to clinical situations where the disease is in an advanced stage. It appears fundamental to apply the standardized screening methods for colorectal cancer, and thus prevent and treat this disease in a timely manner.

Keywords : colonic neoplasms; diagnosis; signs and symptoms; colonoscopy; colorectal surgery.

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