Colorectal Cancer: Epidemiological, Clinical and Histopathological Aspects in Burundi

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. There is no study about colorectal cancer in our country. The aim of the study was to assess epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and histological aspects of colorectal cancer over a 10-year period (1999-2008) in Kamenge university hospital, Bujumbura, Burundi, by a descriptive retrospective study. A total of 37 cases of colorectal cancer, 22 males (59.5%) and 15 females (40.5%), mean age 50.8 years, were retrieved over the period of the study. The colorectal cancer was revealed by a rectal bleeding in 21 patients (56.8%) and an occlusive syndrome in 5 patients (13.5%). All patients underwent surgery. According to Dukes’ stages: 27% were A, 27% B, 19% C and 27% stage D. Histopathologically, 18 cases (46.7%) were differentiated adenocarcinoma, 14 cases (37.8%) undifferentiated adenocarcinoma, 2 cases of lymphoma and 2 cases of leiomyosarcoma. All patients underwent surgery. The hospitalization stay was a mean of 27 days. The prognosis was poor with a mortality rate of 13.5% in the hospital. In conclusion, colorectal cancer deserves awareness as a public health problem in our country.