EVALUATlON ()F' DIFFERENT SURGICAL MODALITIES IN TREATMENT OF RECTAL CANCER

Abstract

This is a study of rectal cancer, which was conducted in the period from April 2003 to August 2005 and included forty patients with rectal cancers,22 males (55%) and 18 females (45%).

The age distribution of our patients showed that the highest incidence was between 45 and 65 years and the lowest was between 15 and 35 years.

The most common symptoms was bleeding per rectum in 75% of cases, altered bowel habits in 37.5%, spurious diarrhea in 25%, abdominal pain in 22.5% and lastly rectal and pelvic pain in 7.5% of cases.

The duration of symptoms was more than 6 months in 37.5% and less than 6 months in the rest of cases.

Positive family history was of colorectal cancers or polyps present only in I 0% of cases.

As regard the history of previous abdominal operations there was 2 cases of rectal cancers misdiagnosed as piles and operated by haemorrhoidectomy.

Most of our cases were presented as an elective disease 94%, and only

6% was admitted by urgent condition.

General examination revealed that anemia and weight loss were present in 7.5% of cases and only one case (2.5%) with palpable Virchow's gland. Abdominal signs were also minimal and only abdominal .distension in 20% of cases, hepatomegaly in I 0%, palpable left iliac fossa mass in 5%, and ascites in 5% of cases.