Relationship between Age and Site of Colorectal Cancer Based on Colonoscopic Findings

Background/Aims: Colorectal cancer occurs more frequently in old age. Therefore, it is important to understand the clinical characteristics of colon cancer in old age. There have been some reports stating that frequency of right side colon cancer increased with aging. Therefore, we conducted a study about the distribution of colorectal cancer according to difterent age group. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed by colonoscopy between January 1999 to September 2003. The location of colorectal cancer was categorized into 2 groups: right-sided colon cancer (proximal to and including the splenic flexure), left-sided colon cancer (descending, sigmoid and rectum). Results:Total 185 colorectal cancer patients were included in this study: 103 (55.7%) in men and 82 (44.3%) in women. The median age was 60.714.0 years. The proportion of patients with right-sided colon cancer increased with aging: 69 years, 35.9% (23/64); 7079 years, 43.3% (13/30); 8089 years, 47.1% (8/17). Conclusions: The frequency of right- sided colon cancer increases with age. Therefore, we think that, in screening colorectal cancer, colonoscopy should be preferred to sigmoidoscopy, especially in old age group.