ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) are most common tumors of the gastrointestinal system. In the guidelines concerning CRCs, negative prognostic factors are clear. However, positive prognostic factors are vague. The aim of this study was to investigate the results of our surgically treated patients with CRCs and to discuss the positive prognostic factors.

METHODS:

The medical records of the patients treated in our clinic between January 1995 and December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathologic features like age, gender, family history, rectal bleeding, presence of an accompanying colorectal disease, tumor location, stage, local recurrence or distant metastasis, histopathology and survival were documented. Statistical analysis were performed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression tests according to the Forward Stepwise method.

RESULTS:

301 of the patients were male and 237 were female. Rectal bleeding and accompanying colorectal disease were positive in 60,4% and 23% respectively. Tumor locations were rectum in 57% and colon in 43%. Histopathologic examination revealed well or moderately differantiated adenocancer in 79%. In 53% of the patients, lymph node metastasis was not detected. According to Duke’s classification system; 10% of the patients were in stage A, 31% were in stage B, 35% were in stage C and 24% were in stage D. In the follow up period, local recurrences and distant metastasis were detected in 11,4% and 29,7%, respectively. Rectal bleeding and presence of an accompanying colorectal disease were determined as factors positively influencing survival.

CONCLUSION:

Early detection is crucial in oncological surgery in order to succeed a curative resection. The necessity of surveillance in these two clinical features may be vital in terms of survival.