Determinants of emergency presentation in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Golder, A. M. , McMillan, D. C. , Horgan, P. G. and Roxburgh, C. S.D. (2022) Determinants of emergency presentation in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 12, 4366. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-08447-y) (PMID:35288664) (PMCID:PMC8921241)

Abstract

Colorectal cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, even despite curative treatment. A significant proportion of patients present emergently and have poorer outcomes compared to elective presentations, independent of TNM stage. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, differences between elective/emergency presentations of colorectal cancer were examined to determine which factors were associated with emergency presentation. A literature search was carried out from 1990 to 2018 comparing elective and emergency presentations of colon and/or rectal cancer. All reported clinicopathological variables were extracted from identified studies. Variables were analysed through either systematic review or, if appropriate, meta-analysis. This study identified multiple differences between elective and emergency presentations of colorectal cancer. On meta-analysis, emergency presentations were associated with more advanced tumour stage, both overall (OR 2.05) and T/N/M/ subclassification (OR 2.56/1.59/1.75), more: lymphovascular invasion (OR 1.76), vascular invasion (OR 1.92), perineural invasion (OR 1.89), and ASA (OR 1.83). Emergencies were more likely to be of ethnic minority (OR 1.58). There are multiple tumour/host factors that differ between elective and emergency presentations of colorectal cancer. Further work is required to determine which of these factors are independently associated with emergency presentation and subsequently which factors have the most significant effect on outcomes.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Horgan, Professor Paul and Golder, Mr Allan and McMillan, Professor Donald and Roxburgh, Professor Campbell
• Authors: Golder, A. M., McMillan, D. C., Horgan, P. G., and Roxburgh, C. S.D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Scientific Reports
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN (Online): 2045-2322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Scientific Reports 12: 4366
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License