Via practica 1/2010

Epidemiology, etiology, clinical picture and prevention of colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal cancer is an important global health problem. In 2000, an estimated 944 717 incident cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed worldwide and about 500 00 individuals died. The cause of high mortality is a delayed diagnosis. Also in the Slovak Republic is a high incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer. In year 2000 in Slovakia 2734 new cases were detected and 1671 people died. Even if etiology is not distinctly explained, large variation in colorectal incidence and mortality rates and the prominent increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in groups that migrated from low-to high incidence areas provide important evidence that lifestyle and especially dietary factors influence the development this malignancy beside genetic factors. Protective exogenous factors are physical activity, intake of folate, selenium, high calcium, dietary fiber, vegetable and fruit . The high intake of red meat, high calories, high fat, obesity, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake increases the of colorectal cancer. It is highly probable that the primary prevention (enhancement of protective and reduction of risk factors) in combination with screening and surveillance (secondary prevention) would reduce incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer.

Keywords: colorectal cancer, epidemiology, etiology, clinical picture, primary and secondary prevention