PMID: 12766783May 27, 2003Paper

The epidemiology of colorectal cancer: what can we learn from the New Zealand Cancer Registry?

The New Zealand Medical Journal
John KeatingKesara Wickremesekera

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer death in New Zealand. Incidence and mortality rates are regularly reported but more detailed information concerning the epidemiology of the disease is not readily available. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of colorectal cancer, with particular reference to gender; subsite distribution; stage at diagnosis; tumour grade; the contribution of recognisable aetiological factors; and the resection rate and type of surgery performed for rectal cancer. All 2272 pathology reports of colorectal cancer submitted to the National Cancer Registry for the year 2000 were reviewed and restaged according to the classical Dukes system. Age, gender, stage, subsite distribution, differentiation, tumour type, associated pathology and type of rectal cancer specimen were recorded. The gender ratio for all cases was equal. One third of resected cancers were in the rectum, one third in the left colon and one third were proximal to the splenic flexure. Men had more rectal cancer (M:F 1.6:1) and women more colon cancer (0.9:1). Right-sided cancers were of significantly higher grade than left-sided cancers. The proportion of right-sided cancers increased with advancing age in both men ...Continue Reading

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