title: Colorectal carcinoma: contribution of growth pattern on prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have reported poor prognosis in colorectal carcinomas with non-polypoid growth pattern. The aim of the present study is to investigate this issue in the patients referred to "Hatzikostas" General Hospital of Messolonghi, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13 patients who were treated for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma in a one-year period were studied. Colorectal carcinomas were classified into two types based on the presence or absence of elevation of tumour as compared with adjacent mucosa: polypoid growth (PG-type) and non-polypoid growth (NPG-type) carcinomas. Clinical and tumour histopathologic parameters were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unlike PG-type carcinomas, NPG-type carcinomas had a high proportion of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, a high likelihood of being advanced, and a high frequency of lymph node as well as distant metastases at the time of diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colorectal carcinomas with NPG pattern tend to show more malignant characteristics than those with PG pattern, explaining their poorer outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hatzikostas General Hospital, Messolonghi, Greece.
authors.forename: E-P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Labropoulou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Datsis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kekelos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogdakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katsiki
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Labropoulou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spiliotis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christopoulou
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D047368:Tumor Burden