Association of symptoms of colon cancer patients with tumor location and TNM tumor stage.

Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Iceland and accounts for 8% of malignancies. We related information on symptoms of colon cancer patients with information on tumor location and pTNM-stage. The study is retrospective and population-based. Information on all patients dia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
Main Authors: Alexiusdottir, Kristin K, Möller, Pall Helgi, Snaebjornsson, Petur, Jonasson, Larus, Olafsdottir, Elinborg J, Björnsson, Einar Stefan, Tryggvadottir, Laufey, Jonasson, Jon G
Other Authors: Landspitali University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Abdominal Pain
Aged
Anemia
Chi-Square Distribution
Colon
Colonic Neoplasms
Defecation
Female
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Hemoglobins
Humans
Iceland
Incidental Findings
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Staging
Odds Ratio
Retrospective Studies
TNM
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2336/295061
https://doi.org/10.3109/00365521.2012.672589
Description
Summary:Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Iceland and accounts for 8% of malignancies. We related information on symptoms of colon cancer patients with information on tumor location and pTNM-stage. The study is retrospective and population-based. Information on all patients diagnosed with colon cancer in Iceland in 1995-2004 was obtained. Information on symptoms of patients and blood hemoglobin was collected from patients' files. The pathological parameters were derived from a previously performed study. A total of 768 patients (422 males, 346 females) participated in this study. Median age was 73 years. Nearly 60% had anemia at the time of diagnosis, 53% had visible blood in stools, and 65% had changes in bowel habits. Around 84% had visible blood in stools and/or anemia. Of those with right-sided tumors, 75% had anemia and were more likely to be diagnosed incidentally (40%) than those with left-sided tumors (20%). Left-sided tumors were associated with blood in stools (68% compared to 41%, p < 0.05) and changes in bowel habits (74% compared to 57%, p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that blood in stools was strongly associated with a lower TNM-stage (OR = 0.75, p < 0.05). Anemia was strongly associated with a higher TNM-stage (OR = 1.84, p < 0.05). Right-sided tumors were associated with anemia and incidental diagnosis; left-sided tumors were associated with visible blood in stools and changes in bowel habits. Visible blood in stools was significantly associated with lower TNM-stage, whereas abdominal pain, general and acute symptoms were associated with higher TNM-stage. Landspitali University Hospital

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