Dakubo, J.C.B.Naaeder, S.B.Tettey, Y.Gyasi, R.K.2013-06-192017-10-192013-06-192017-10-192010Dakubo, J. C. B., Naaeder, S. B., Tettey, Y., & Gyasi, R. K. (2010). Colorectal carcinoma: An update of current trends in Accra. [Carcinome colorectal: Une mise à jour des tendances actuelles de Accra] West African Journal of Medicine, 29(3), 178-183.0189160Xhttp://197.255.68.203/handle/123456789/3635BACKGROUND: Clinical experience and earlier studies indicate that the number of colorectal cancer cases seen annually in the Accra metropolis is increasing. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at providing a current update on colorectal cancer in Accra, Ghana. METHODS: A prospective study of confirmed cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed from January 1997 - December 2007. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-nine colorectal cancer cases were studied. Males were 192(53.5%) and females 167(46.5%) with an annual incidence of 32.6 new cases. The crude incidence rates were 12.53, 9.87 and 11.18 per 100,000 population for males, females and overall respectively. Rectal bleeding 185(51.1%), abdominal mass 76(21.1%), intestinal obstruction 62(17.3%), intestinal perforation nine (2.5%) and iron deficiency anaemia nine (2.5%) cases were the main presentations. There were 168 (46.8%) rectal and 191(53.2%) colon tumours. Two hundred and thirty-one patients had laparotomy with 225 resections, and 128 patients for various reasons did not undergo surgery. The Astler Coller stages of the tumours at diagnosis were C 2 84(36.7%), C 1 53(22.1%), B 2 49(21.4%), D 17(7.4%), B 1 14(6.1%) and A 12(5.1%) cases. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type 321(89.4%), with the majority either well-differentiated (62.5%) or moderately well-differentiated (25.6) carcinomas. Poorly differentiated carcinomas accounted for 28 cases (7.8%). Post-operative mortality was 6.1%. Long term survival could not be assessed as the majority of patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased over the last four decades in tandem with an aging population of Accra with adenocarcinoma as the predominant histological type.enEMTREE medical terms: abdominal mass; adenocarcinoma; adolescent; adult; aged; aging; article; cancer incidence; cancer staging; child; colorectal carcinoma; controlled study; female; follow up; Ghana; histopathology; human; infant; intestine obstruction; intestine perforation; iron deficiency anemia; laparotomy; major clinical study; male; preschool child; prospective study; rectum hemorrhage; school child; surgical mortality; survival time; tumor differentiationArticle