Carcinoma of the colon in Finland. A nation-wide clinical study of cases from 1975.
All 455 colon carcinomas diagnosed in Finland in 1975 (19 at autopsy) were reviewed. The age-adjusted incidence was 8.0/100,000 population, equal in both sexes. Histologic verification was obtained in 88.4% of the cases. The stages at diagnosis were A 11%, B 44%, C 17% and D 28%. Of the tumours diagnosed during life, 8% were not operated on. Resectability was 75% in the cases with surgery and resectability for cure 59%. Operative mortality was 10.7% overall and 6.3% in elective surgery. Emergency surgery was performed on 27% of the total series and carried 22% mortality rate. The crude 5-year survival rate was 31% in the total series. The relative rate was 41% overall and 75% after resection for cure. All survival rates were significantly higher in women than in men. Following resection with curative intent, relative 5-year survival was 91% in stage A and 68% in stage B and C tumours. Survival was level with rates in population studies elsewhere, and greatly improved as compared with earlier Finnish Cancer Registry studies.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors