Colorectal cancer in Saudi population; are there any issues related to gender?

ABSTRACT

The aim of study was to investigate differences in clinicopathological [CPC] features of colorectal cancer [CRC] patients between both genders. We did a retrospective chart review of CRC patients confirmed by histopathology. 414 patients were included in study from King Abdul Aziz medical city Jeddah. Charts of patients were reviewed; data was analyzed on SPSS version 20. Majority of patients were males [58.7%] who were slightly older than females [mean age 57.7 versus 54.6 years] [p value 0.033]. The most common age group was fifty to eighty years in both genders [64% patients]. Abdominal pain was reported more in females [57% vs. 41.5% p value 0.002] while there was no difference in reporting bleeding per rectum between both genders [50.2% vs. 49.3% p value 0.953]. History of diabetes mellitus [DM], smoking and colonic polyps] was more common in males [67 versus 34 patients], [21 versus 3 patients] and [10 versus 1 patient respectively. Patients presenting with acute surgical abdominal complications were less than 20%. Only 33 [19.2%] of females received preoperative chemotherapy vs. 80 [33%] of males [p value 0.001]. There was no significant gender differences regarding site, histopathology grade and surgical treatment received. There are important gender differences in CPC features of CRC patients in our population. Female patients tend to be slightly younger than males and there is less association with smoking, DM and previous colonic polyps. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom among females. Both genders presented at similar stage of disease. These observations should be taken in consideration in making colorectal screening guidelines and public awareness programs