Five-year survival in patients with colon cancer in a Venezuelan hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: Colon cancer is an increasing public health challenge in developing countries. In Venezuela, survival data and prognostic indicators remain limited. Objective: To determine five-year overall survival and associated clinicopathologic factors in patients with colon cancer surgically treated at IAHULA between 2005 and 2015. Methods: Observational retrospective study. We reviewed 106 clinical records of patients who underwent surgery for colon cancer with a minimum follow-up of five years. Sociodemographic, clinical, histopathological, and therapeutic variables were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used. Results: Overall five-year survival was 37.7%. By stage: 100% (stage 0), 83.3% (I), 57.9% (II), 39.3% (III), and 4.8% (IV). Recurrence occurred in 38.4% of patients. Emergency surgery was required in 37.7% of cases. The most common tumor location was the sigmoid colon (33%), and the predominant histological type was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (45.3%). Complete resection was achieved in 78.3% of patients, but only 8.5% had ? 12 lymph nodes examined. Conclusions: Survival was lower than reported in other Latin American countries. This study provides valuable regional data and highlights the importance of postoperative follow-up and optimization of surgical and adjuvant treatments.