Colorectal cancer presentation in eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

• Published in: Journal of clinical oncology Vol. 31; no. 4_suppl; p. 370
• Main Authors: Khan, Afrasyab, Prasad, Jagdish
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2013
• ISSN: 0732-183X; 1527-7755
• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2013.31.4_suppl.370

Abstract only 370 Background: New Zealand has a high incidence of colorectal cancer; the death rate is the highest amongst developed countries. New Zealand does not have a national screening program for colorectal cancer yet. This study was done in a region with a higher proportion Maori ethnicity. We hypothesized that there are differences in presentation and pathology of colorectal cancer between Maori and European people. Methods: A review of new cases of colorectal cancer presenting over a period of three years (2008-2011) at Whakatane Hospital was done. Data was collected from clinical records and entered into SPSS software. Results: 113 new cases of colorectal cancer were identified. Median age was 73 years. Maori patients were younger than the rest (median age 60 vs 74.5; p < 0.05). 95 patients were of European ethnicity and 15 were Maori. The predominant sign/symptom on presentation was PR bleeding (32%). Only 5 cases were asymptomatic and diagnosed on surveillance colonoscopy. The histologic type of tumor was adenocarcinoma in 111 cases. The most common site of the tumors was the rectum (18.6%). 34.5% cases had localized disease (stage 1, 2A) with no significant difference between Maori and the rest.18.6% cases had distant metastasis with no significant difference between Maori and the rest. Curative surgery was not done in 16 patients due to advanced disease, comorbidities or patient refusal. Conclusions: A higher proportion of patients were diagnosed with localized disease at presentation compared to the rest of New Zealand.. Fewer Maori patients had colorectal cancer in view of the higher proportion of Maori in the area (42-61%). The age of Maori was significantly lower than the rest. Colorectal cancer screening in New Zealand will likely detect cancer earlier. [Table: see text]