Outcome of surgery for colorectal cancer in a defined population in Sweden from 1984 to 1986.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate incidence, treatment, and outcome for patients with colorectal cancer.


METHODS
From 1984 to 1986 in Ostergötland, a county in Sweden with a defined population, a prospective registration using a computerized protocol was undertaken.


RESULTS
In the surgical departments 596 cases were diagnosed and 31 more cases were diagnosed in other departments, bringing the incidence to 53 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Of the cases, 14 percent presented as emergencies. The resectability rate was 90 percent, and the rate of curative operations was 74 percent. Postoperative mortality within 30 days was 2.9 percent. Crude five-year survival for all patients was 40 percent, and the corrected survival rate was 53 percent. After curative resection the crude five-year survival rate was 53 percent, and the corrected survival rate was 70 percent. Prognosis was better for colon than for rectal cancer, 76 percent vs. 59 percent corrected five-year survival rate. For rectal cancer the local recurrence rate was 20 percent after curative resection.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis was improved compared with a previous study from the same area because of decreased postoperative mortality, increased rate of operations for cure, and an increased five-year corrected survival rate. Local recurrence after rectal cancer was still high but may be reduced with improved surgical technique.
Arbman
G
G
Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden.
Nilsson
E
E
Störgren-Fordell
V
V
Sjödahl
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology