The prevalence and clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer among patients under 50 years of age, in selected hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Date
2019-11-05
Authors
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Hubert Kairuki Memorial University
Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer is a common surgical diagnosis worldwide. Tanzania's colorectal cancer
incidence has increased six times in the past decade. Globally, colorectal cancer is believed to be a disease
pre\'alent among old age cohort.
Objective: To determine the burden and associated clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer
among young adults seen in Dar es Salaam hospitals, Tanzania.
Methods: A 5-year retrospective-based study was conducted among biopsy confiim^l colorectal cancer
patients at major referral hospital facilities in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Young adults were the target
population. A pre-designed clinical sheet was used to collect data on demographic, clinical, radiological as
well as histopatholo^ findings. Data were summarized using median (and IQR) for continuous vaiiables
and frequency (with proportion by %) for categorical variables. Pearson Chi-square test \vas used to assess
the association between variables. Data were analyzed using Epi-Info 7 statistical software. Alpha-level of
5% was set as a limit for type I error.
Results: Out of 335 biopsy confirmed colorectal cancer patients analyzed during the study period, 128
patients wei-e <50 years old giving out a prevalence of 38.2 %. Male:female was 1.7:1 in this study
population. Rectal bleeding (n= 207, 61.8%), abdominal pains/discomfort (n= 62, 18.5%), change in bowel
habits (n= 61, 18.2%) as well as features of bowel obstruction (n=52, 15.5%) were the commonest
presenting symptoms and signs in this study population. Majority (75.2%) of patients presented with stages
III and IV of their disease state, whth 50 (45.9%) and 32 (29.3%) respectively. About seven in ten (69.5%)
of all patients had either moderately or poorly differentiate colorectal cancer cells. Almost all patients
(96.7%) had biopsy confiime adenocarcinoma.
Conclusion: There is a sharp increase in the reported number of biopsy-confirme CRC among patients
younger than 50 years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, reported in the immediate 5 years period.
Recommendations: There is an urgent need for early screening of CRC among younger age groups in the
society^ in order to avoid the effects oi" deleterious consequences of the canco", as apart from the increase
rise in CRC in younger adults, most are also detected at late stages.
Description
A dissertation to be submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree 0f Master of Medicine (Surgery) of Hubert Kairuki Memorial
University
Keywords
Colorectal Cancer, Clinicopathologic, Dar es salaam,Tanzania
Citation
Banane,L E., 2019. The prevalence and clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer among patients under 50 years of age, in selected hospitals in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. HKMU