Do young patients have different clinical presentation of colorectal cancer causing delay in diagnosis?

PURPOSE: The incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing among young patients. In these patients, colorectal cancer is believed to have a poorer prognosis because it is more aggressive and diagnosed at later stages; however, the behavior of these tumors in young patients remains to be elucidated. We investigated the impact of time interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis (TISD) at the pathologic stage of colorectal cancer in young patients. METHODS: The medical records of 215 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to age. The young group (age < 50 years) consisted of 66 patients, and the older group (age ≥ 50 years) of 149 patients. Clinical variables, TISD, pathologic stage, operative mortality, and oncologic outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: The older group had less abdominal pain (74.0 vs. 56.0 %, p = 0.0129). In multivariate analysis, the following variables were independently associated with tumor pathologic stage: personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (p < 0.0001), family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (p = 0.00100), and smoking (p = 0.0070). Both groups had similar rates regarding pathologic stage (I, 15 vs. 22 %; II, 22 vs. 24 %; III, 27 vs. 16 %; IV, 37 vs. 38 %, p = 0.3380). There was no difference in overall survival [45 (69 %) vs. 84 (61 %), p = 0.2482] and cancer-free survival [36 (63 %) vs. 83 (62 %), p = 0.9218] between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with colorectal cancer had clinical and pathological presentation similar to that of older patients.

Colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital: a consecutive analysis of 1000 cases.

BACKGROUND: Proficiency and competence of endoscopists is perhaps the mainstay of successful diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy. AIM: To analyze indications, diagnostic findings, and complications of colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital. METHODS: Were analyzed 1,000 colonoscopies consecutively performed by fourth-year residents under direct supervision of experienced colonoscopists. Information on patients' demographic data, bowel preparation, indications for the procedure, success of the procedure, diagnostic findings, and complications were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 596 (59.6%) female and 404 (40.4%) male patients were examined. Age ranged from 3 to 99 years (mean 53.8 years). Bowel preparation was performed with 10% mannitol solution in 978 patients (97.8%), being considered appropriate in 97.6% of cases. Main indications were: diagnosis (56.4%), therapy (9.6%), screening (17.3%), and surveillance (22%). Cecal and ileocecal valve intubation rates were 90.3 and 58.6%, respectively. Colonoscopy was normal in 45.8% of cases. The most common diagnosis was diverticulosis (18.5%), followed by polyps (17%) and malignancies (6.8%). Findings consistent with an inflammatory process were identified in 122 patients (12.2%) and vascular abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (1.1%). Other diagnoses accounted for 3.9% of cases. There were two cases (0.2%) of complications (submucosal hematoma and bleeding), both after polypectomy, with no need for surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: The residents under supervision and guidance of specialists can perform colonoscopies with excellent success and low complication rates, with final results comparable to those achieved by fully trained endoscopists.

Colonoscopias realizadas por médicos residentes em hospital universitário: análise consecutiva de 1000 casos / Colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital: a consecutive analysis of 1000 cases

RACIONAL: A colonoscopia tem indicação para diagnóstico em pacientes sintomáticos e é eficaz no rastreamento e vigiância de pacientes assintomáticos. Tem potencial terapêutico em diversas situções, principalmente na remoção das lesões polipóides. A proficiência e a competência do endoscopista é o esteio para o sucesso da colonoscopia diagnóstica e terapêutica. OBJETIVO: Analisar as indicações, os achados diagnósticos, e as complicações de colonoscopias realizadas por médicos residentes em um hospital universitário. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 1.000 colonoscopias consecutivas realizadas por residentes de quarto ano, sob supervisão direta de colonoscopistas experientes. Foram obtidas informações sobre os dados demográficos dos pacientes, o preparo intestinal, as indicações para o procedimento, o sucesso do procedimento, os achados diagnósticos e as complicações. RESULTADOS: Foram examinados total de 596 (59,6%) mulheres e 404 (40,4%) homens. A idade variou de três a 99 anos (média 53,8). O preparo intestinal foi realizado com solução de manitol a 10% em 978 pacientes (97,8%), sendo considerada adequada em 97,6% dos casos. Principais indicações foram: diagnóstico (56,4%), terapêutica (9,6%), rastreamento (17,3%) e vigilância (22%). Taxas de intubação do ceco e válvula ileocecal foram 90,3 e 58,6%, respectivamente. A colonoscopia foi normal em 45,8% dos casos. O diagnóstico mais comum foi diverticulose (18,5%), seguido por pólipos (17%) e neoplasias (6,8%). Achados consistentes com um processo inflamatório foram identificados em 122 pacientes (12,2%) e anomalias vasculares foram detectadas em 11 pacientes (1,1%). Outros diagnósticos representaram 3,9% dos casos. Houve dois casos (0,2%) de complicações (hematoma e hemorragia submucosa), ambos após polipectomia, sem necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica. CONCLUSÃO: Os residentes sob supervisão e orientação de especialistas podem realizar colonoscopias com excelente resultado, baixo índice de complicações e com dados finais comparáveis aos obtidos por endoscopistas experientes.

BACKGROUND: Proficiency and competence of endoscopists is perhaps the mainstay of successful diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy. AIM: To analyze indications, diagnostic findings, and complications of colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital. METHODS: Were analyzed 1,000 colonoscopies consecutively performed by fourth-year residents under direct supervision of experienced colonoscopists. Information on patients' demographic data, bowel preparation, indications for the procedure, success of the procedure, diagnostic findings, and complications were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 596 (59.6%) female and 404 (40.4%) male patients were examined. Age ranged from 3 to 99 years (mean 53.8 years). Bowel preparation was performed with 10% mannitol solution in 978 patients (97.8%), being considered appropriate in 97.6% of cases. Main indications were: diagnosis (56.4%), therapy (9.6%), screening (17.3%), and surveillance (22%). Cecal and ileocecal valve intubation rates were 90.3 and 58.6%, respectively. Colonoscopy was normal in 45.8% of cases. The most common diagnosis was diverticulosis (18.5%), followed by polyps (17%) and malignancies (6.8%). Findings consistent with an inflammatory process were identified in 122 patients (12.2%) and vascular abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (1.1%). Other diagnoses accounted for 3.9% of cases. There were two cases (0.2%) of complications (submucosal hematoma and bleeding), both after polypectomy, with no need for surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: The residents under supervision and guidance of specialists can perform colonoscopies with excellent success and low complication rates, with final results comparable to those achieved by fully trained endoscopists.