title: The application of current diagnostic protocols of patients with colon cancer in preparation for therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer is the third most common tumor which causes high percentage of mortality in the general population. Etiologic factors which cause this disease are various, while diagnostic methods involve very complex protocols from detection of tumor markers to a combination of endoscopic and imaging methods.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of patients suffering from colon cancer for a period of two years and with endoscopic methods to verify and localize the tumor and its spread. Histopathological determination of the tumor type. Determine the concentration of CEA and CA 19-9 in the serum. Depending on the tumor location asses its progression, severity and extent by radiological imaging methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was prospective and retrospective, performed at the Gastroenterohepatology Clinic of the Clinical Center of Sarajevo University. During the two-year follow-up, 91 patients were hospitalized underwent endoscopy, targeted biopsy and histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the colon in which a pathologist determined grade of the cancers. Samples were eosin stained and underwent pathological histological analyzes. All patients according to tumor localization underwent CT scan and MRI of the rectum and pelvis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common location of the cancer regardless of sex was in the recto sigmoid colon. Prevalence of colorectal cancer spread to other organs was not related to location. No significant dependence of the localization of the tumor by gender was found (p-value = 0.313). Ca 19-9 had the highest value in localization of tumors in the rectum. There was no statistically significant difference in age between men and women. The largest number of patients has adenocarcinoma grade 2 and the localization at the rectum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of laboratory parameters (CEA and CA 19-9) with endoscopic and radiological imaging methods is essential in diagnosis of colorectal cancer and assessment of the process progression. There is a need to impose additional diagnostic parameters to detect the disease at an earlier stage.
authors: Clinic of Gastroenterohepatology, Clinical center of University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors: Zora
authors: Z
authors: Vukobrat-Bijedic
authors: Azra
authors: A
authors: Husic-Selimovic
authors: Amela
authors: A
authors: Sofic
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Bijedic
authors: Bisera
authors: B
authors: Gogov
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Djuran
authors: Amila
authors: A
authors: Redzepovic
authors: Aida
authors: A
authors: Saray
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Bjelogrlic
keywords: colon cancer; diagnostic protocols.
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