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Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer

  • Chapter
Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer

Part of the book series: Sloan-Kettering Institute Cancer Series ((SKICS))

Abstract

In the following discussion the terms “colorectal cancer,” “cancer of the large intestine,” and “cancer of the large bowel” will be used to indicate that tumors classified according to the Eighth Revision of the International Classification of Disease (Public Health Service, 1968) as ICD 153 (cancer of the colon, excluding rectum) and ICD 154 (cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid junction) are being considered in the aggregate. Where there are references to “cancer of the colon,” it will be understood that this is colon (ICD 153), excluding the rectum and rectosigmoid, and “cancer of the rectum” (ICD 154) will be understood to include the rectosigmoid junction. Some authors (Logan, 1976) use the term “cancer of the intestine” to include cancers of the small intestine (ICD 152) as well as cancer of the colon (ICD 153). While generally cancers of the small intestine contribute such a small proportion of the total that this makes little difference, in some countries this is not the case. In Belgium, with high rates at both sites, small intestinal neoplasms make up 10% of cancer of the intestine defined in this way. In Japan, where mortality from colon cancer is low and mortality from small intestine cancer is rather high, the latter constitutes 30% of all cancers of the two sites combined. Unless otherwise specified, small intestine cancers will not be included in this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    David Schottenfeld (Chief, Professor of Public Health)

  2. Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    David Schottenfeld (Chief, Professor of Public Health) & Joanna F. Haas (Assistant Professor of Public Health)

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  1. David Schottenfeld
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  2. Joanna F. Haas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, USA

    Martin Lipkin M.D.  & Robert A. Good Ph.D., M.D.  & 

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Schottenfeld, D., Haas, J.F. (1978). Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer. In: Lipkin, M., Good, R.A. (eds) Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer. Sloan-Kettering Institute Cancer Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2442-3_9

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