The Trend of Colorectal Cancers at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Histopathological Study

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancers (CRCs) are common malignancies in Ghana. The aim of the study was to describe the trend and the clinico-pathological characteristics of CRCs in our institution by a retrospective study. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study in the Department of Pathology, from January 2002 to December 2012. Results: A total of 521 (50.1%) out of 1,040 gastrointestinal malignancies diagnosed during the period of study period were CRCs. Total of 100 (19.2%) of the patients were less than 40 years old. Many (53.2%) were females. The great majority (93.9%) of the patients had stated symptoms at presentation of which 37.8% were bleeding per rectum. About half (50.0%) of the CRCs were diagnosed in small mucosal biopsies. Approximately 60.8% of the patients reported to a health facility after 3 month of onset of symptoms. Majority (62.2%) of the cancers were located on the left side of the colon particularly the rectosigmoid region (57.4%). The five common CRCs diagnosed in this study were: Conventional adenocarcinoma (80.8%), mucinous adenocarcinoma (6.9%), signet ring adenocarcinoma (3.8%) lymphomas (2.1%) and GIST (1.3%). Of the 199 cases that had Duke’s staging, 40.7% were stage C. Conclusion: There was a rise in the mean age at diagnosis and the number of colorectal cancers over the period of study. Close to 19.2% of the cancers were patients younger than 40 years. Patient presented late with symptoms of advanced disease, most being in Duke’s stage C.