Colorectal cancer among Yemeni patients. Characteristics and trends.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics and trends of colorectal cancer registered in Aden Cancer Registry.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all registered cancers (1735) was performed at Aden Cancer Center, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen from the years 1997-2001, to describe colorectal cancers with regards to age, sex and residency distribution, subsites and histopathology, and incidence rates.

Results: The results indicate that digestive system cancers are the most common cancers (17.1%); and colorectal cancer (28%) is the most common of these. Developing countries characteristics of this cancer are clear. These include a relatively high proportion of early-onset tumor (19.3% of cases were <40 years), and left sided subsite distribution (49.4% of cases were in the rectum and rectosigmoid junction).

Conclusion: Further analytical studies, to address the community-related risk factors, public education, and screening programs for colorectal cancer are mandatory.