Short-Term Impact of Temporary Shutdown of a University-Affiliated Hospital on Patients With Colorectal Cancer During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Owing to in-hospital transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Uijeongbu St.Mary’s Hospital, a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea, was temporarily closed for disinfection in March 2020. This study aimed to investigate the impact of both the hospital shutdown and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on short-term outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic data of 607 patients who were surgically treated for CRC from May 2018 to September 2021. Nodal upstaging, higher lymphatic invasion and abdominoperineal resection rates for 3 months after the hospital resumed surgery following the shutdown in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were detected, without worse short-term morbidity or mortality. The incidence of adverse pathologic features of CRC such as lymphatic, venous, and perineural invasion was higher throughout the COVID-19 pandemic era. Further follow-up of CRC patients treated in the pandemic era for long-term oncologic outcomes is needed.

Which prognostic factors are important for long-term outcomes in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer? A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study

Purpose@#The prognostic factors in obstructive colon cancer have not been clearly identified. We aimed to identify the prognostic factor to establish optimal treatment strategy in obstructive colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent surgery for primary colon cancer in stages II and III with symptomatic obstruction from 2004 to 2010 in six hospitals were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathological and surgical outcomes were compared between stent insertion and emergent surgery group. Multiple regression analysis and survival curve analysis were used to identif y the prognostic factors in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer. @*Results@#Among 210 patients, 168 patients (80.0%) underwent stent insertion followed by surgery and 42 patients (20.0%) underwent emergent surgery. Laparoscopic approach (55.4% vs. 23.8%, p< 0.001) and adequate lymph node (LN) harvest (≥12) (93.5% vs. 69.0%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in stent insertion group. In multiple regression analysis, emergent surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 2.153; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.031–4.495), vascular invasion (HR, 6.257; 95% CI, 2.784–14.061), and omitting adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 3.107; 95% CI, 1.394–6.925) were independent poor prognostic factors in 5-year overall survival, and N stage (N1: HR, 3.095; 95% CI, 1.316–7.284; N2: HR, 4.156; 95% CI, 1.671–10.333) was the only poor prognostic factor in 5-year disease-free survival. @*Conclusion@#In symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, emergent surgery, N stage, vascular invasion, and omission of adjuvant chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors. Stent insertion is suggested as the initial treatment for symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended, especially when vascular invasion or LN metastasis is confirmed.

Which prognostic factors are important for long-term outcomes in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer? A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study

Purpose@#The prognostic factors in obstructive colon cancer have not been clearly identified. We aimed to identify the prognostic factor to establish optimal treatment strategy in obstructive colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent surgery for primary colon cancer in stages II and III with symptomatic obstruction from 2004 to 2010 in six hospitals were retrospectively collected. Clinicopathological and surgical outcomes were compared between stent insertion and emergent surgery group. Multiple regression analysis and survival curve analysis were used to identif y the prognostic factors in symptomatic obstructive colon cancer. @*Results@#Among 210 patients, 168 patients (80.0%) underwent stent insertion followed by surgery and 42 patients (20.0%) underwent emergent surgery. Laparoscopic approach (55.4% vs. 23.8%, p< 0.001) and adequate lymph node (LN) harvest (≥12) (93.5% vs. 69.0%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in stent insertion group. In multiple regression analysis, emergent surgery (hazard ratio [HR], 2.153; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.031–4.495), vascular invasion (HR, 6.257; 95% CI, 2.784–14.061), and omitting adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 3.107; 95% CI, 1.394–6.925) were independent poor prognostic factors in 5-year overall survival, and N stage (N1: HR, 3.095; 95% CI, 1.316–7.284; N2: HR, 4.156; 95% CI, 1.671–10.333) was the only poor prognostic factor in 5-year disease-free survival. @*Conclusion@#In symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, emergent surgery, N stage, vascular invasion, and omission of adjuvant chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors. Stent insertion is suggested as the initial treatment for symptomatic obstructive colon cancer, and adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended, especially when vascular invasion or LN metastasis is confirmed.

Retrospective study on prevalence of recurrent inguinal hernia: a large-scale multi-institutional study

PURPOSE: We conducted a multi-institutional analysis to establish the epidemiological characteristics of recurrent inguinal hernia following hernia repair in patients across 4 institutions in Korea.METHODS: The retrospectively reviewed data included patient characteristics, hernia location, year of primary operation, type of hernia, timing of recurrence, primary operation type, and whether a mesh was used.RESULTS: Among 4,604 patients who underwent hernia repair surgery, 255 patients (5.5%; 13 females and 242 males; mean age, 63 years) were found to have recurrent hernia from January 2010 to April 2017. Recurrent indirect inguinal and direct hernias were observed in 47.1% and 49.4% of the patients, respectively. The recurrence of hernias within 1 year of surgery was the highest at 17.25%. Early and late recurrences was observed in 23.5% and 66.5% of the patients, respectively. Among the patients, 81.6% underwent open hernia repair at the time of initial surgery.CONCLUSION: Recurrence of hernia is most common in the first year after the initial surgery, and 23.5% of recurrent inguinal hernia was developed within 2 years. Patients underwent surgery after an average of 116 months (median value, 64 months) following the first operation. In patients with recurrent hernia, direct hernia was seen more frequent than indirect hernia whereas indirect hernia occurred more in patients with primary hernia.

Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Completion on Oncologic Outcomes in ypTNMstage 2 Rectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Adjuvant chemotherapy (aCT) in rectal cancer patients who have undergone curative resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the benefits of using aCT and the clinical impact of completing aCT in ypstage 2 rectal cancer patients.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological data from patients who had undergone radical resection after nCRT between January 2006 and December 2012. In total, 152 patients with ypT3/4N0M0 rectal cancer were included. Of these patients, 139 initiated aCT, while 13 did not receive aCT (no-aCT). Among those who received aCT, 132 patients completed their planned cycles (aCT-completion) whereas 7 did not (aCT-incompletion). All patients received longcourse chemoradiation; a 5-fluorouracil-based regimen was used for nCRT in most patients. The prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 41 months. Demographic data did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. In multivariate analysis, open surgery, a tumor size >2 cm, retrieval of <12 lymph nodes, circumferential resection margin (CRM) positivity and aCT incompletion were independent prognostic factors for poor DFS. Old age (≥60 years), open surgery, CRM positivity, aCT incompletion, and lack of aCT initiation compared to aCT completion were independent prognostic factors for poor OS.CONCLUSION: In ypstage 2 rectal cancer patients, aCT after nCRT and total mesorectal excision affected both DFS and OS; however, only patients who completed planned aCT exhibited survival benefits. Therefore, improving patients’ compliance with the completion of aCT is desirable.

Clinical Significance of Discordance between Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels and RECIST in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic implications of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels that are inconsistent with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) responses in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 360 patients with at least one measurable lesion who received first-line palliative chemotherapy. CEA-response was defined as CEA-complete response (CR; CEA normalization), CEA-partial response (PR; ≥ 50% decrease in CEA levels), CEA-progressive disease (PD; ≥ 50% increase in CEA levels), and CEA-stable disease (SD; non-CR/PR/PD). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated according to CEA-response. RESULTS: In RECIST-PR patients, poorer CEA-response was associated with disease progression at the subsequent evaluation. In RECIST-SD patients, CEA-CR and -PR were associated with lower disease progression rates than CEA-PD at the subsequent evaluation. Correlations between survival outcome and CEA-response in same-category RECIST patients were assessed. In RECIST-PR patients, discordant CEA-response (CEA-PD/SD) was associated with poorer survival than CEA-CR/PR (median OS and PFS, 44.0 and 15.4 [CEA-CR], 28.9 and 12.5 [CEA-PR], 21.0 and 9.8 [CEA-SD], and 13.0 and 7.0 [CEA-PD] months, respectively; all p < 0.001). In RECIST-SD patients, favorable CEA-response produced better survival (median OS and PFS, 26.8 and 21.0 [CEA-CR], 21.0 and 11.0 [CEA-PR], 16.1 and 8.2 [CEA-SD], and 12.2 and 6.0 [CEA-PD] months, respectively; all p < 0.001). RECIST-PD patients with CEA-CR showed longer OS than those with CEA-PD. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that discordant CEA-response is a powerful prognostic factor for RECIST-PR and RECIST-SD patients. CONCLUSION: Among patients of the same RECIST-response categories, CEA-response patterns are significantly prognostic and strongly predictive of subsequent evaluation outcomes.

Effect of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Stage II Colon Cancer: Analysis of Korean National Data / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Debates exist regarding the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate the current status of adjuvant chemotherapy and its impact on survival for Korean stage II colon cancer patients by analyzing the National Quality Assessment data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 7,880 patientswho underwent curative resection for stage II colon adenocarcinoma between January 2011 andDecember 2014 in Koreawere selected randomly as evaluation subjects for the quality assessment. The factors that influenced overall survival were identified. The high-risk group was defined as having at least one of the following: perforation/obstruction, lymph node harvest less than 12, lymphovascular/perineural invasion, positive resection margin, poor differentiation, or pathologic T4 stage. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 38 months (range, 1 to 63 months). Chemotherapy was a favorable prognostic factor for either the high- (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38 to 0.59; p < 0.001) or low-risk group (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.89; p=0.002) in multivariate analysis. This was also the case in patients over 70 years of age. The hazard ratio was significantly increased as the number of involved risk factors was increased in patients who didn’t receive chemotherapy. Adding oxaliplatin showed no difference in survival (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.91 to 2.03; p=0.132). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy can be recommended for stage II colon cancer patients, but the addition of oxaliplatin to the regimen must be selective.

The Impact of Surgical Timing on Pathologic Tumor Response after Short Course and Long Course Preoperative Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: A pooled analysis of multi-institutional trials was performed to analyze the effect of surgical timing on tumor response by comparing short course concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with long course CCRT followed by delayed surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred patients with cT3-4N0-2 rectal adenocarcinoma were included. Long course patients from KROG 14-12 (n=150) were matched 1:1 to 150 short course patients from KROG 10-01 (NCT01129700) and KROG 11-02 (NCT01431599) according to stage, age, and other risk factors. The primary endpoint was to determine the interval between surgery and the last day of neoadjuvant CCRT which yields the best tumor response after the short course and long course CCRT. Downstaging was defined as ypT0-2N0M0 and pathologic complete response (ypCR) was defined as ypT0N0M0, respectively. RESULTS: Both the long and short course groups achieved lowest downstaging rates at < 6 weeks (long 20% vs. short 8%) and highest downstaging rates at 6-7 weeks (long 44% vs. short 40%). The ypCR rates were lowest at < 6 weeks (both long and short 0%) and highest at 6-7 weeks (long 21% vs. short 11%) in both the short and long course arms. The downstaging and ypCR rates of long course group gradually declined after the peak at 6-7 weeks and those of the short course group trend to constantly increase afterwards. CONCLUSION: It is optimal to perform surgery at least 6 weeks after both the short course and long course CCRT to obtain maximal tumor regression in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

Novel Methods of Lymph Node Evaluation for Predicting the Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Inadequate Lymph Node Harvest / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Lymph node metastasis is an important factor for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. However, approximately 60% of patients do not receive adequate lymph node evaluation (less than 12 lymph nodes). In this study, we identified a more effective tool for predicting the prognosis of patients who received inadequate lymph node evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The number of metastatic lymph nodes, total number of lymph nodes examined, number of negative metastatic lymph nodes (NL), lymph node ratio (LR), and the number of apical lymph nodes (APL) were examined, and the prognostic impact of these parameters was examined in patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery from January 2004 to December 2011. In total, 806 people were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In comparison of different lymph node analysis methods for rectal cancer patients who did not receive adequate lymph node dissection, the LR showed a significant difference in overall survival (OS) and the APL predicted a significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS). In the case of colon cancer patients who did not receive adequate lymph node dissection, LR predicted a significant difference in DFS and OS, and the APL predicted a significant difference in DFS. CONCLUSION: If patients did not receive adequate lymph node evaluation, the LR and NL were useful parameters to complement N stage for predicting OS in colon cancer, whereas LR was complementary for rectal cancer. The APL could be used for prediction of DFS in all patients.

Fellows' perception of fellowship training and overarching issues

Patient expectations for specialized medical care have spawned fellowship programs that require additional subspecialty training after residency training completion. The present study assessed the curricula and training environment adequacy of fellowship programs as perceived by current trainees and identified improvement areas for South Korea's overall fellowship program. A questionnaire was distributed to 1,764 fellows training at 6 university hospitals in Seoul, Korea during October 2014. From a return rate of 33.1%, 26.2% (403 responses) of all questionnaires distributed were compete enough to include in the analysis. Fellows participating in the survey were enrolled in fellowship programs with occupational aspirations of professorship and academic aspirations of subspecialty exploration. Nevertheless, more than half of the participating fellows did not have a clear understanding of their program's objectives. Many hoped for reduced clinical hours, increased research time allowance, and higher pay compared to current training environment and salary. The fellows' satisfaction with their program's curriculum and training environment was above 3 points on a Likert scale of 1 to 5. Receiving a training objective and financial support for academic activities by the training institution were factors influencing fellows' satisfaction level regarding both the curriculum and training environment. Clearly defined program objectives, a specialized curriculum for fellows, improved working conditions, and reflection on medical workforce policies are imperative for the advancement of Korean fellowship programs.

Dose-Escalated Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

No abstract available.

Comparative study between transanal tube and loop ileostomy in low anterior resection for mid rectal cancer: a retrospective single center trial

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the transanal tube (TAT) in preventing anastomotic leak (AL) in rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: Clinical data of the patients who underwent curative surgery for mid rectal cancer from February 2010 to February 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Rectal cancers arising 5 to 10 cm above the anal verge were selected. Patients were divided into the ileostomy, TAT, or no-protection groups. Postoperative complications including AL and postoperative course were compared. RESULTS: We included 137 patients: 67, 35, and 35 patients were included in the ileostomy, TAT, and no-protection groups, respectively. Operation time was longer in the ileostomy group (P = 0.029), and more estimated blood loss was observed (P = 0.018). AL occurred in 5 patients (7.5%) in the ileostomy group, 1 patients (2.9%) in the TAT group, and 6 patients (17.1%) in the no-protection group (P = 0.125). Patients in the ileostomy group resumed diet more than 1 day earlier than those in the other groups (P = 0.000). Patients in the no-protection group had about 1 or 2 days longer postoperative hospital stay (P = 0.048). The ileostomy group showed higher late complication rates than the other groups as complications associated with the stoma itself or repair operation developed (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: For mid rectal cancer surgery, the TAT supports anastomotic site protection and diverts ileostomy-related complications. Further large scale randomized controlled studies are needed to gain more evidence and expand the range of TAT usage.

Niti CAR 27 Versus a Conventional End-to-End Anastomosis Stapler in a Laparoscopic Anterior Resection for Sigmoid Colon Cancer

PURPOSE: The Niti CAR 27 (ColonRing) uses compression to create an anastomosis. This study aimed to investigate the safety and the effectiveness of the anastomosis created with the Niti CAR 27 in a laparoscopic anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer. METHODS: In a single-center study, 157 consecutive patients who received an operation between March 2010 and December 2011 were retrospectively assessed. The Niti CAR 27 (CAR group, 63 patients) colorectal anastomoses were compared with the conventional double-stapled (CDS group, 94 patients) colorectal anastomoses. Intraoperative, immediate postoperative and 6-month follow-up data were recorded. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, tumor location and other clinical characteristics. One patient (1.6%) in the CAR group and 2 patients (2.1%) in the CDS group experienced complications of anastomotic leakage (P = 0.647). These three patients underwent a diverting loop ileostomy. There were 2 cases (2.1%) of bleeding at the anastomosis site in the CDS group. All patients underwent a follow-up colonoscopy (median, 6 months). One patient in the CAR group experienced anastomotic stricture (1.6% vs. 0%; P = 0.401). This complication was solved by using balloon dilatation. CONCLUSION: Anastomosis using the Niti CAR 27 device in a laparoscopic anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer is safe and feasible. Its use is equivalent to that of the conventional double-stapler.

Advantages of Interval Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Periappendiceal Abscess

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common procedure for treatment of appendicitis. However, in some complicated cases, like periappendiceal abscess, deciding on treatment options is very challenging. Early appendectomy or interval appendectomy may be possible, but remains controversial. METHODS: We prospectively studied the advantages of interval appendectomy in 21 patients with periappendiceal abscess using a laparoscopic method versus 14 patients with immediate initial laparotomy. RESULTS: In the interval appendectomy group (INT group), in periappendiceal abscess, use of a laparoscopic method was advantageous in terms of operation time (p<0.001), less fasting time (p<0.001), and fewer postoperative complications (p=0.032). However, the total cost in the INT group was 1,686,000+/-940,000 South Korean won (KRW) compared with 1,506,000+/-322,000 KRW in the early appendectomy group (EAR group) (p=0.007) because patients in the INT group required two hospital visits. The total length of hospital stay postoperatively, was 7.31+/-2.726 days in the INT group, compared with 9.21+/-3.378 days in the EAR group (p=0.537). CONCLUSION: We recommend interval appendectomy as the preferable approach for the periappendiceal abscess, as it can result in more favorable postoperative surgical outcomes, fewer complications, and less antibiotic usage.

Advantages of Interval Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Periappendiceal Abscess

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy is a common procedure for treatment of appendicitis. However, in some complicated cases, like periappendiceal abscess, deciding on treatment options is very challenging. Early appendectomy or interval appendectomy may be possible, but remains controversial. METHODS: We prospectively studied the advantages of interval appendectomy in 21 patients with periappendiceal abscess using a laparoscopic method versus 14 patients with immediate initial laparotomy. RESULTS: In the interval appendectomy group (INT group), in periappendiceal abscess, use of a laparoscopic method was advantageous in terms of operation time (p<0.001), less fasting time (p<0.001), and fewer postoperative complications (p=0.032). However, the total cost in the INT group was 1,686,000+/-940,000 South Korean won (KRW) compared with 1,506,000+/-322,000 KRW in the early appendectomy group (EAR group) (p=0.007) because patients in the INT group required two hospital visits. The total length of hospital stay postoperatively, was 7.31+/-2.726 days in the INT group, compared with 9.21+/-3.378 days in the EAR group (p=0.537). CONCLUSION: We recommend interval appendectomy as the preferable approach for the periappendiceal abscess, as it can result in more favorable postoperative surgical outcomes, fewer complications, and less antibiotic usage.

The Expression of Multiple Proteins as Prognostic Factors in Colorectal Cancer: Cathepsin D, p53, COX-2, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, C-erbB-2, and Ki-67

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A single gene mutation alone cannot explain the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to establish a correlation between the expression of six proteins and the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Tissue samples were collected from 266 patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer at our institution from January 2006 to December 2007. The expression of six proteins were determined using immunohistochemical staining of specimens. RESULTS: Cathepsin D, p53, COX-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erbB-2, and Ki-67 expression were detected in 38.7%, 60.9%, 37.6%, 35.7%, 30.1%, and 74.4% of the samples, respectively. The expression of cathepsin D was significantly correlated with reduced cancer-free survival (p=0.036) and colorectal cancer-specific survival (p=0.003), but the other expression levels were not. In a multivariate analysis, cathepsin D expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor for poorer colorectal cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio, 8.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 68.49). Furthermore, patients with tumors expressing four or more of the proteins had a significantly decreased cancer-free survival rate (p=0.006) and colorectal cancer-specific survival rate (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cathepsin D positivity had a poorer outcome than patients who were cathepsin D-negative. Thus, cathepsin D may provide an indicator for appropriate intensive follow-up and adjuvant chemotherapy.

The nutritional risk is a independent factor for postoperative morbidity in surgery for colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: The authors evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition and its effect on the postoperative morbidity of patients after surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Three hundred fifty-two patients were enrolled prospectively. Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) score was calculated through interview with patient on admission. Clinical characteristics, tumor status and surgical procedure were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of patients at nutritional risk was 28.1 per cent according to the NRS 2002. The rate of postoperative complication was 27%. There was a significant difference in postoperative complication rates between patients at nutritional risk and those not at risk (37.4% vs. 22.9%, P = 0.006). Nutritional risk was identified as an independent predictor of postoperative complications (odds ratio, 3.05; P = 0.045). Nutritional risk increased the rate of anastomotic leakage (P = 0.027) and wound infection (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: NRS may be a prognostic factor for postoperative complication after surgery for colorectal cancer. A large scaled prospective study is needed to confirm whether supplementing nutritional deficits reduces postoperative complication rates.

The Role of Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in the Initial Staging of Colon Cancer

No abstract available.

Occurrence and Prognosis of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Patients

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a high risk for postoperative thromboembolic complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to other surgical diseases, but the relationship between VTE and CRC in Asian patients remains poorly understood. The present study examined the incidence of symptomatic VTE in Korean patients who underwent surgery for CRC. We also identified risk factors, incidence and survival rate for VTE in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were identified from the CRC database treated from January 2011 to December 2012 in a single institution. These patients were classified into VTE and non-VTE groups, their demographic features were compared, and the factors which had significant effects on VTE and mortality between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: We analyzed retrospectively a total of 840 patients and the incidence of VTE was 3.7% (31 patients) during the follow-up period (mean, 17.2 months). Histologic subtype (mucinous adenocarcinoma) and previous history of VTE affected the incidence of VTE on multivariate analysis. There was a statistically significant difference in survival rate between the VTE and non-VTE group, but VTE wasn't the factor affecting survival rate on multivariate analysis. Comparing differences in survival rate for each pathologic stage, there was only a significant difference in stage II patients. CONCLUSION: Among CRC patients after surgery, the incidence of VTE was approximately 3% within 1 year and development of VTE wasn't a significant risk factor for death in our study but these findings are not conclusive due to our small sample size.

Investigation of Clinical Manifestations in Korean Colorectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: Early diagnostic work-up in patients with clinical symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC) is important to achieve good treatment results. In this study, we investigated clinical symptoms when a diagnosis of CRC was made in patients who had a surgical resection, especially focusing on the relevance of constipation to CRC. METHODS: The clinical symptoms of 17,415 CRC patients who had curative surgery from January 2010 to December 2012 were collected from 24 training hospitals of surgery. RESULTS: The number of symptomatic patients before the diagnosis of CRC was 11,085 (63.7%). Hematochezia or melena, abdominal pain, anemia, and constipation were more often found in female than male patients while bowel habit change was more common in male patients. Considering age, bowel habit change and hematochezia or melena were more common in patients younger than 60. Anemia and constipation, however, were more common in patients older than 60. According to the group classification based on age, patients older than 60 had experienced more constipation (P = 0.049). Moreover, patients with constipation tended to have a more advanced disease status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients who had surgery due to CRC, bleeding, abdominal pain, bowel habit change and constipation were the most frequent symptoms before diagnosis. Although whether or not constipation is a cause of CRC is unclear, it is one of the important clinical symptoms that presents in patients with CRC, and patients with a symptom of constipation tend to present with a more advanced CRC stage.