Prevalence of Colorectal Cancer as a Cause of Intestinal Obstruction in a Tertiary Level Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Early identification of colorectal cancer in people with Intestinal Obstruction can lead to more effective treatment and a better prognosis. In a country like ours, where screening for colorectal cancer is yet to be established well, the prevalence of colorectal cancer has not been properly determined.

Methods and materials: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Surgery in Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital for a month of the period following approval of the protocol. A semi-structured questionnaire and collected data were analyzed by using the statistical software SPSS 24.

Result: A 30% majority was observed in 20-30 years of age group. All respondents (100%) presented with abdominal pain followed by vomiting (54%), constipation (40%), fever (32%), weight loss (14%), abdominal tenderness (48%) and abdominal mass (20%). Most of the respondents were presented with acute intestinal obstruction (40%) and others were sub-acute intestinal obstruction (60%). No significant statistical association was found in the biopsy findings of respondents. 11(22%) of respondents had intestinal obstruction due to malignancy, among them, 7(14%) had an acute intestinal obstruction and 4(8%) had a sub-acute intestinal obstruction. Histological findings of biopsy among malignant cases showed that among 7 respondents with acute intestinal obstruction, 6 had adenocarcinoma 1 had lymphoma and among the 4 respondents with sub-acute intestinal obstruction 3 had adenocarcinoma, and 1 had lymphoma.

Conclusion: Colorectal carcinoma was the second most common cause of intestinal obstruction. However, further studies are needed to establish and use the findings.