Clinical features, frequency and prognosis of Dukes' a colorectal carcinoma: A population-based investigation

The main aim of this study was, through the data of a population-based Registry, to establish the incidence of Dukes' A lesions by year of registration and the main clinical features, and to assess cancer-specific survival. One hundred and eighteen Dukes' A colorectal tumours were diagnosed (in 117 patients) out of 1337 registered between 1984 and 1992 in the Health Care District of Modena, Northern Italy; 94 patients were treated with surgery and 23 with endoscopic polypectomy. The frequency of Dukes' A tumours ranged between 4.8% and 18% by year of registration. Dukes' A carcinomas were significantly more frequent in the distal colon. Only 5 patients (4%) died of their cancer, and in all patients the tumour was localised in the rectum. Carcinomas associated with a poor prognosis did not show any of the biological variables usually associated with an unfavourable outcome, but, our data suggest the possibility of incomplete removal of tumours at surgery. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd