Colorectal cancer in Brazzaville, Congo. A hospital-based study of 210 cases

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of colorectal cancer in the patient population of Congolese hospitals, to delineate thei r clinico-pathological characteristics, and to look for risk factors. A tot al of 210 cases of colorectal cancer seen over a 17-year period (1980-1996) were included, The diagnosis was based on histological findings (n=118), r adiological and/or endoscopic findings (n=52), intraoperative findings (n=2 4), or a constellation of clinical and laboratory test findings (n=16). Col orectal cancer contributed to 5.5% of all cancers and 63.2% of gastrointest inal tract cancers during the study period. None of the patients had precan cerous lesions. Mean age was only 46 years in the patients with colon cance r and 49 years in those with rectal cancer; 36.0% of patients were younger than 40 years of age. A male bias was noted. Rectal cancer was more common than colon cancer, and adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type . These data suggest that colorectal cancer is infrequent in the Congo and that etiopathogenic factors specific to tropical climates may explain the f requently young patient age and the absence of precancerous lesions.