Survival of rectal cancer patients in Denmark during 1994–99

Objective  As survival from rectal cancer in Denmark is below the European average, we analysed survival during the period of 1994–99 focusing upon improvement strategies. Method  All patients with a first-time rectal cancer were registered in a national database during this 5-year period. In the observational cohort study, data on patient age and gender, tumour stage, surgical procedures, adjuvant radiotherapy, anastomotic leakage, 30-day mortality and long-term survival were evaluated. Results  The database comprised 5021 patients. Sixty-four percent had a localized tumour. Less than a third of patients with fixed tumours had pre-operative radiotherapy and curative surgery was achieved in 70%. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 13%, and 30-day mortality was 4% following abdominoperineal or anterior resection and 11% following a Hartmann's procedure. The relative 5-year survival in the entire series was 39% in males and 47% in females, respectively. Following curative surgery the relative 5-year survival was 55% in males and 63% in females, respectively. Survival was 71% in the subset of patients receiving curative total mesorectal excision. Conclusion  The average tumour stage upon diagnosis was probably more advanced compared to the other Nordic countries and pre-operative radiotherapy was administered to a minority of patients with fixed tumours. The anastomotic leakage rate was relatively high, whereas the 30-day mortality was comparable to other studies. Survival from rectal cancer in Denmark is still less favourable compared to the other Nordic and several European countries but improved from 1996 and onwards.