Clinicopathological Characteristics and Overall 5-Year Survival of Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death. We aimed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and 5-year survival in CRC. This retrospective study reviewed King Abdulaziz University Hospital records from 2009 to 2019. Tumor staging was performed using Dukes' pathological classification. Additionally, we measured the frequency of qualitative data and performed the chi-square and Mann−Whitney U-tests. Kaplan−Meier analysis was performed to calculate overall survival. Of the 574 included patients (age (mean ± standard deviation), 55.51 ± 14.28 years), 43.2% were Saudis, and most were male (58.7%). The rectum was the most common location of CRC (30.8%); 33.1% of patients presented with abdominal pain. The dominant histological variant was mucinous adenocarcinoma (95.5%). Age at diagnosis was significantly associated with Dukes' staging; 36.3% of individuals aged <50 years had Dukes' D stage. The 5-year survival rate was 47.9%. Better survival was noted for those of Saudi nationality, those with Dukes' A stage, and those who were overweight (51.6%, 56.3%, and 46.8%, respectively). Significantly better survival was seen in Saudi patients due to accessible healthcare and in overweight patients due to better treatment tolerance. The outcome of CRC was not related to sex or metformin use in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Diverticulitis in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Acute diverticulitis is considered one of the most common emergencies presenting with acute abdomen. There is a paucity of literature on the epidemiology and clinical picture of acute diverticulitis among the Middle Eastern population. Thus, this study aimed to describe the epidemiology, complications, and outcomes in addition to the management of acute diverticulitis in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted from 2009 to 2019, using data extracted from an electronic medical system. Data obtained included demographics, clinical presentation, and patient management. Quantitative variables were described as mean and standard deviation, whereas qualitative variables were described as numbers and percentages. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for non-parametric variables, and correlation analysis was done using Spearman's test. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with a median age of 53 years had acute diverticulitis. Twenty-eight patients (62.2%) were Saudi Arabians, and 27 (60%) were male. The majority of patients (n=32, 71.1%) had only left-sided disease, and abdominal pain was the most frequently reported symptom (n=35, 77.8%). Computed tomography revealed that 21 (72.4 %) patients had Hinchey classification stage IA disease. The recurrence rate was 24.4% (N =11). Four patients required 30-day readmission (8.9%). The most commonly used inpatient antibiotic was metronidazole, and the most common surgical procedure was Hartmann's procedure. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.7% (n=3). CONCLUSION: This study found that acute diverticulitis is more prevalent in men, has a high recurrence rate, and is predominantly seen in the left colon. Most patients have an uncomplicated form of the disease. Given the lack of previous studies in Saudi Arabia, future research should include population-based studies to identify the prevalence, complications, and outcomes of acute diverticulitis in the country.