Journal Article

Clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with colorectal cancer in Bhutan: a cross-sectional study

Dorji, Thinley, Pradhan, Prabhat, Chophel, Ugyen, Wangmo, Sangay

2025

Overview

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.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adenocarcinoma / Adult / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Antigens / Bhutan / Bhutan - epidemiology / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cancer Research / Cancer staging / Cancer therapies / Chemotherapy / Colorectal cancer / Colorectal carcinoma / Colorectal neoplasm / Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis / Colorectal Neoplasms - epidemiology / Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology / Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy / Cross-Sectional Studies / Demographic aspects / Distribution / Early detection of cancer / Endoscopy / Epidemiology / Female / Females / Gastrointestinal neoplasm / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Hospitals / Humans / Male / Medical diagnosis / Medicine/Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Older people / Oncology / Patients / Physiological aspects / Population / Radiation / Review boards / Surgery / Surgical Oncology