Clinical-Pathological Characteristics of Colorectal Carcinoma and Factors Influence 2-Years Survival among Patients Attending Ocean Road Cancer Institute Dar es Salaam Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Colorectal carcinoma usually arises from an adenomatous polyp and observational studies suggest that the adenoma-to-carcinoma sequence takes approximately 10 to 15 years. Risk factors are adoption of westernized diets, obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol and reduced physical activity. Clinical Presentations are blood per rectum, abdominal pain, Anemia, change in bowel habits and bowel obstructive symptoms. The treatment of colorectal cancer is a dependent stage which includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or both. Objective: This study aims at describing the clinical pathological characteristics of colorectal carcinoma and factors influencing survival among patients treated at Ocean Road Cancer Institute. Methods: This was a cross sectional study that involved histological confirmed colorectal carcinoma treated at Ocean Road Cancer Institute from 2010-2015. Results: Among 100 files extracted, 63% were males and 37% females. 21% were below 40 years of age. Left-sided tumor accounted for 46%. Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and constipation were 72%, 68% and 55% respectively. Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma accounted for 80%. Patients presented at stage III and IV were 37% and 56% respectively. Colostomy was the most surgical procedures performed. Folinic acid, Fluorouracil and Oxaliplatin were the most common chemotherapies used. Median overall survival was estimated to be 9.4 months. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients in this study population are young. Survival from colorectal cancer is poor owing largely to the late presentation seen in this study group.