Comparison of Colorectal Cancer Features During Three Periods in Hospital Cancer Registry

The aim of this study was to analyze possible effects of the war aggression on Croatia in 1991-95 on the localization, age and sex distribution and stage of colon cancer. We investigated three periods: distant prewar (1982-3), immediate prewar (1989-90) and postwar period (1998-2000). Data on each patient were obtained from the computer based colorectal cancer registry established at the Department of Pathology. There was statistically significant increase of cases affecting the right colon during the postwar period (p<0.01). A shift from the age group 60-69 to 70-69 years was observed during the postwar period. There was no statistically significant difference in the age and sex distribution of the tumors. Regarding the TNM staging, the patients presented in more advanced stages during the postwar period (p<0.01). Similar difference was observed comparing Dukes' stages during all three periods p<0.01). We conclude that in our study an increasing proportion of cases affecting right colon during three investigated period was noticed. The patients presented in more advanced stages towards the end of analyzed periods. We think that these changes could be probably, at least in part, be ascribed to the effects of war.