Management of colorectal cancer: 20 years' experience

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in westernised countries. Its treatment is the subject of active, ongoing investigation within all treatment modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We reviewed the charts of all patients treated in this university general surgical department for colorectal carcinoma, between January 1983 and December 2002. A total number of 494 patients with colorectal cancer were operated on, on an elective or emergency basis. Patients' demographics, clinical presentation, location of tumour, type of surgery, operative staging, pathology of tumour, outcome and follow-up were recorded and analysed.