[Analysis on misdiagnosis of 271 patients with rectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the common reasons for the misdiagnosis of rectal cancer.


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed in 568 cases of rectal cancer in the Changhai Hospital from January 2007 to December 2008. Age at diagnosis, gender distribution, symptom, delay in diagnosis, TNM stage, and grade of differentiation were recorded and analyzed. The importance of digital examination and colonoscopy were addressed.


RESULTS
Two hundred and seventy-one(47.7%) out of 568 patients were misdiagnosed for iatrogenic reasons. Rectal cancer patients who presented hematochezia were more likely to be misdiagnosed. There were 110 cases of stage III(40.6%) and 68 cases of stage IV(12.5%) in patients who were misdiagnosed, which was significantly higher than those who were diagnosed correctly(P<0.05). Patients under 40 years old were more likely to be misdiagnosed, and their correct diagnosis was often delayed longer and the tumors were in more advanced stage as compared to the older groups(P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The misdiagnosis rate of rectal cancer is high. Tumor stage of patients misdiagnosed is significantly more advanced than those who are correctly diagnosed. Digital examination and colonoscopy should be emphasized, especially for patients under the age of 40.
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Ji-fu
JF
E
Han-tao
HT
Wang
Chuan-gang
CG
Fu
Fu-ao
FA
Cao
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies