Colo-Rectal cancer in upper Egypt

ABSTRACT

This study included 1650 patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings were consistent with colorectal cancer in 130 cases [72 males and 58 females]. Their mean age was 42.9 years [range 17 to 85 years]. The main presenting symptoms were gross bleeding [53.1%], abdominal pain [31.5%] and diarrhea [28.5%]. Most patients had more than one symptom or sign at the time of diagnosis. The lesions in 85% of the cases were within the reach of sigmoidoscopy. 93% of the tumors were adenocarcinomas and 7% were mucinous adenocarcinomas. In Upper Egypt, colorectal cancer was not considered the disease of elderly patients. Its occurrence at younger age [22% of cases below 30 years] should draw attention for further studies