Incidence of Colorectal Carcinoma in the Remote Area of Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world that show malignant growth in the colon, rectum, and or appendix. CRC is the second most common malignancy in females and third in males. This study aimed to ascertain the incidence of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in a population in a remote area of Sindh, Pakistan, and also compared and correlated the sociodemographic characteristics and different parameters such as diagnosis, grade, and histopathology of the CRC cases.Methods: The study was conducted from February 2012 to 2019 at Pakistan Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital (NORIN) Nawabshah Sindh, Pakistan. All cases were evaluated through a detailed history, clinical examination, radiological examination, and histopathology-proven cases. The sociodemographic parameters, diagnosis grades, and histopathology of the CRC were statistically compared and correlated by SPSS version 21.Results: Out of a total of 10,848 reported patients, 424 (3.9%) were of CRC. The CRC was further comprised of 63.9% males and 36.1% females. We classified our patients into two age groups, <= 40 years (Group-A), and > 40 years (Group B). Group-A comprised 41% of patients, and their mean age was 28 +/- 6.98 years, while Group B comprised 59% of patients with a mean age of 43 +/- 8.3 years. Histological specimens divulged that most of the common specimens were of adenocarcinoma. Early diagnosis was very strenuous due to no signs and symptoms. Thus, the majority of the patients, approximately 39%, were found to be of grade 2 carcinoma.Conclusion: Our study unveils an increased number of patients with CDC at an age of <40 belonging to rural areas. Further studies are needed to elucidate the cause of this high incidence with a particular focus on genetic and molecular risk factors.