J R Gardezi, G A Sial, Salman Yousuf Guraya.
Colorectal Carcinoma: Our Experience.
Pak J Surg Jan ;17(3):15-9.

The outcome of surgical treatment of forty three patients with colorectal carcinoma managed at Surgical Unit I, Jinnah Hospital Lahore from August 1997 to July 2000 is reviewed in this study. Colonic cancer accounted for 49% and rectal cancer 59 % of total cases. Of the colonic group, 13 (69.9%) presented with right sided and 8 (38%) with left sided colonic carcinoma. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Mean age of patients at the time of presentation was 48.9 years. Altered bowel habits was the commonest presentation recorded in 30 (69.7%) cases followed by bleeding per rectum observed in 27 (62.7%) patients. Overall resectability rate was 81.3% while palliative procedures were performed in 18.6%.

Anterior/low anterior resection was done in 8 (36.3%) and abdominoperineal excision of rectum in another 4 (18%) patients of rectal cancers. Fifty nine percent had Dukes A and B while 41% presented with advanced disease (Dukes C and D). Five (11.6%) patients had locoregional recurrence and two (4.6%) developed multiple liver metastases within a mean period of nine months. Anastomotic leak was observed in three (6.9%) patients. Disease free survival was 60.4%, overall mortality 4.6% and post operative morbidity, 33%. This study highlights the emergence of colorectal cancer is a younger age group which demands thorough workup in young patients with persistent bowel symptoms.

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