Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Globally, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This study describes the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, the only hospital with onco-surgery services in Bhutan. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on the review of records of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2018 and 2024 at the National Referral Hospital, Thimphu. RESULTS: There were 182 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancers in the six-year period. The highest proportions were observed in the Trashigang (28, 15.4%), Pema Gatshel (15, 8.2%), Mongar (14, 7.7%), Samtse (14, 7.7%) and Sarpang (14, 7.7%) districts. The mean age at diagnosis was 61.5 ± 15.6 years; almost half were males (95, 52.2%) and 82 (45.1%) were ≥ 65 years. The common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (48, 26.4%), altered bowel habits (35, 19.2%), and per rectal bleeding (33, 18.1%). The predominant location of the tumour was in the middle/lower rectum (43, 23.6%) and the right colon (40, 22.0%). The majority of the patients were diagnosed with Stage III (59, 32.4%) and Stage IV (16, 8.8%) diseases. The dominant histology pattern was adenocarcinoma (38, 20.9%). The common form of treatment offered was surgery with chemotherapy (74, 40.7%). CONCLUSION: Higher proportion of colorectal cancers were reported among older adults and with Stage III or IV disease. This study reports the baseline description of patients with colorectal cancer in Bhutan.