Epidemiological Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer in Patients Referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital During (1981-2001)

Colorectal cancer is the most prevalent GI cancer that leads to 10% of due to cancer deaths. The object of the present study was to determine colorectal cancer prevalence in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital and to compare it with that of western countries. In a retrospective-descriptive study, records of 900 patients hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital during 1981 and 2001 were studied. Extracted information about patients’ age, sex, stage of disease, smoking and family history was then analyzed via SPSS software. Of 900 colorectal cancer cases, 522 (58%) were male and 378 (42%) were female with mean age of 51.07 years (SD=14.87). 668 cases (74%) were above 40 and 232 cases were below 40 years old. 69.9% of patients were non smoker and 30.1% were smoker. 763 cases (96.7%) had negative and 26 cases(3.3%) had positive family history. In the study of CRC stage, stage I had lower (0.9%) and stage II had higher percentage of patients (42%). Rectum was the most common anatomical site in two genders (64.65%). Regarding the high prevalence of this cancer in under 40-year-old population (in contrast to western countries’ reports and the young population), potential unknown environmental-genetic factors should be taken into consideration. Evaluation of these risk factors (regimen, life style, low physical activity, …) and exact screening should be started from younger ages. Furthermore, due to high incidence of recto-sigmoid masses in this study, screening with fiberoptic sigmoidoscope can help us in diagnosing and early treatment of patients.