The incidence of colorectal tumours in the Maltese islands

Abstract

Colorectal neoplasm is one of the commoner forms of malignant disease; according to the Annual Report Registrar General, 1970 its incidence in England and Wales is second only to that of lung cancer. A survey of the hundred and seventy three patients documented in the Malta Tumour Registry as suffering from colorectal neoplasms between the years 1969-1972 (inclusive) was carried out. Several findings emanate from this survey such as the incidence in the younger age group, the presence of significant nausea and vomiting in fifty percent of the patients of the left hemicolon and twenty percent of cases with a tumour in the right hemicolon. Moreover, this survey has shown that there is an average delay of about six months from the time the patient first presents to his own practitioner until his hospitalization for investigation with yet further delays before surgery is attempted.