Purpose: This study was designed to realize the incidence, clinical and endoscopic characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of early colorectal cancer in Taiwan.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to review the data from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2005 at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Patients' clinical information, demographic data, endoscopic pictures, treatment regimens, pathologic, and outcome details for these cases were reviewed, recorded, and analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test and log-rank test were used for the statistical analysis.
Results: A total of 61 patients from this 15-year period were included (39 males; mean age of disease onset, 63.5 years). The follow-up period ranged from 0.05 to 15 (mean, 6.8) years. Five-year survival rate in our early colorectal cancer patients was 98.4 percent. The size of the early colorectal cancer ranged from 0.3 to 5 cm with the mean of 1.4 cm. The most common site of early colorectal cancer was the sigmoid colon (56.1 percent). Protruded (Type I) lesions accounted for the majority (73.6 percent) of the cases. Endoscopic polypectomy/mucosectomy was the most common type of treatment (72.3 percent). There was no statistical difference in the survival status between the endoscopic treatment group and the operation group (log-rank test, P = 0.368).
Conclusions: Most of the early colorectal cancer lesions could be removed successfully by endoscopic method without mortality and major morbidity. However, regular follow-up after treatment is recommended even after five years to reduce early colorectal cancer mortality and morbidity.