Colo-rectal carcinoma in a tropical African population: an overview report

Fifty-one selected cases of colo-ano-rectal carcinoma seen in a tropical African population over a period of two decades were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups. Group A were those cases seen under the age of thirty years, Group B were the resectable rectal carcinoma because they were bulky and occupied the whole of the pelvis. This we referred to as cases with "frozen" pelvis. Our modality of treatment consists of surgical excision when possible, the use of Levamisole, the use of 5-Fluoro-Uracil either intravenously, intraperitonealy and intrarectally as the case requires and radiotherapy when available. For Group A, the average survival period is 10.6 months, for Group B, it is 17.3 months and for Group C, it is 14.5 months. Symptoms of tenesmus and ascites improved by intrarectal and intraperitoneal infusion of calculated dose of 5-Fluoro-Uracil.