Ersin Öztürk1, Mehmet Ayhan Kuzu2, Derya Öztuna3, Özgen Işık1, Aras Emre Canda4, Emre Balık5, Serdar Erkasap6, Tayfun Yoldaş7, Cihangir Akyol7, Sezai Demirbaş8, Bünyamin Özoğul9, Ömer Topçu10, Ercan Gedik11, Bilgi Baca12, İlknur Ergüner12, Oktar Asoğlu5, Bülent Erkek2, Tuncay Yılmazlar1, Erhan Reis13, Rasim Gençosmanoğlu14, Ali Konan15. 1. Department of General Surgery, Uludağ University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey. 2. Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of General Surgery, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey. 5. Department of General Surgery, İstanbul University İstanbul School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 6. Department of General Surgery, Osmangazi University School of Medicine, Eskişehir, Turkey. 7. Department of General Surgery, Ege University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey. 8. Department of General Surgery, GATA School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 9. Department of General Surgery, Atatürk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey. 10. Department of General Surgery, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey. 11. Department of General Surgery, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey. 12. Department of General Surgery, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 13. Department of General Surgery, Demetevler Oncology Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 14. Department of General Surgery, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. 15. Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with colorectal cancer continue to present with relatively advanced tumors that are associated with poor oncological outcomes. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between localization, symptom duration, and tumor stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted on patients newly diagnosed with a histologically proven colorectal adenocarcinoma. Standardized questionnaire-interviews were performed. Data were collected on principal presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms (time to first presentation to a doctor and time to diagnosis) and treatment, diagnostic procedures, tumor site, and stage of the tumor (tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM)). RESULTS: A total of 1795 patients with colorectal cancer were interviewed (mean age: 60.76±13.50 years, male patients: 1057, patients aged >50 years: 1444, colon/rectal cancer: 899/850, right side/left side: 383/1250, stage 0-1-2/stage 3-4: 746/923). No statistically significant correlations were found between duration of symptoms and either tumor site or stage. Principal presenting symptoms were significantly associated with left colon cancer. Patients who had "anemia," "change in bowel habits," "anal pruritus or discharge," "weight loss," and "tumor in right colon" had a significantly longer symptom time. CONCLUSION: Symptom duration is not associated with localization, nor is the tumor stage. Diagnosis of colorectal cancer at an earlier stage may be best achieved by screening of the population.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with colorectal cancer continue to present with relatively advanced tumors that are associated with poor oncological outcomes. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between localization, symptom duration, and tumor stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted on patients newly diagnosed with a histologically proven colorectal adenocarcinoma. Standardized questionnaire-interviews were performed. Data were collected on principal presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms (time to first presentation to a doctor and time to diagnosis) and treatment, diagnostic procedures, tumor site, and stage of the tumor (tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM)). RESULTS: A total of 1795 patients with colorectal cancer were interviewed (mean age: 60.76±13.50 years, male patients: 1057, patients aged >50 years: 1444, colon/rectal cancer: 899/850, right side/left side: 383/1250, stage 0-1-2/stage 3-4: 746/923). No statistically significant correlations were found between duration of symptoms and either tumor site or stage. Principal presenting symptoms were significantly associated with left colon cancer. Patients who had "anemia," "change in bowel habits," "anal pruritus or discharge," "weight loss," and "tumor in right colon" had a significantly longer symptom time. CONCLUSION: Symptom duration is not associated with localization, nor is the tumor stage. Diagnosis of colorectal cancer at an earlier stage may be best achieved by screening of the population.
Authors: Gary J Kelloff; Richard L Schilsky; David S Alberts; Robert W Day; Kathryn Z Guyton; Homer L Pearce; Jonathan C Peck; Robert Phillips; Caroline C Sigman Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2004-06-01 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Maria Ramos; Magdalena Esteva; Elena Cabeza; Carlos Campillo; Joan Llobera; Antonio Aguiló Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 2007-10-10 Impact factor: 9.162