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Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. ; Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common +cancer in the world. According to National Cancer Registry in 2004, was listed the 4th most common cancer in South Africa. The average person’s lifetime risk of CRC is 5%. Majority of CRC is sporadic, with only 20% associated with inherited and inflammatory bowel disorders. Incidence increases with increasing age and genetic mutations. CRC incidence higher in people aged 50 and older. Unfortunately the incidence of CRC is escalating in patients younger than 50. Young age is considered a poor prognostic factor, usually presenting in advanced stages, with more aggressive histopathologic features. Other risk factors depend on lifestyle and behaviour (diet, smoking, alcohol, obesity). Survival depends on the stage at diagnosis. Five year survival for localized disease is 90%, 60% for regional disease and 10% for metastatic disease. Due to lack of recognized screening programs in South Africa, a large number of patients with CRC present to surgical units with complications of colorectal cancer. Morbidity and mortality associated with emergency surgery is very high. It is estimated that about 30% of patients with CRC present with complications such as obstruction, perforation, bleeding and fistulas. Of these 8-10% present with obstruction, and approximately 3% with perforation. These complications are associated with the worst prognosis. Aim There is a lack of data on complicated colorectal cancer in South Africa. The study was therefore undertaken in order to establish the prevalence of complicated colorectal cancer among patients presenting to the KwaZulu-Natal teaching hospitals. 8 Methods This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data. The on-going KwaZulu-Natal colorectal cancer database was established in 2000. The database now comprise 1944 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Of these, 448 patients presented with complicated colorectal carcinoma and these patients form the ... |