Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom patterns in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Abstract OBJECTIVE To observe the symptom patterns (or syndromes) according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory in patients with various stages of colorectal cancer, and to observe the dynamic evolution process of these TCM patterns. METHODS A prospective and cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation was performed. Clinical data on TCM symptom patterns in patients with colorectal cancer in the perioperative period (210 cases) and adjuvant treatment period (160 cases) were collected. EPIData 3.1 together with frequency statistics and cluster analyses were performed to identify the TCM patterns based on symptom characteristics in patients with colorectal cancer, and to assess the dynamic changes in these patterns. RESULTS In the perioperative period, from the first day of perioperative care to postoperative days 3, 7, and 10, the TCM pattern showed a process of dynamic change from blood deficiency to deficiency of both Qi and Yin and the pattern of dampness and hot accumulative knotting. In the adjuvant treatment period, the TCM pattern changed from Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency inner-heat with dampness to a deficiency pattern, primarily including Yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, deficiency of Qi and blood, and spleen deficiency. CONCLUSION Our study confirmed that variations in the dynamic evolution of TCM symptom patterns exist in patients with colorectal cancer during different treatment periods. This information is of great value in the individualized management of colorectal cancer.