Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Registry
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Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent form of cancer in Norway for both sexes combined. The proportion of patients who survive the disease remains stable and indicates that treatment is good.
Summary from the annual report 2024
This annual report includes all patients with colon and rectal cancer in all stages for the period 2015–2024. The reference group for the Norwegian colorectal cancer registry has defined quality indicators relevant for this group of patients accompanied by target levels. See figure 1.1 and 1.3 for an overview of national quality indicators and results. The results for the quality indicators are presented in chapter 2.
Summary colon cancer
The quality indicators for colon cancer show that eight indicators reach the target for optimal achievement and one indicators show a moderate level of achievement. The reporting rate for clinical reports are 84,7 % for diagnostic work-up and 92,2 % for surgery reports. The quality goal for reporting to the registry is set at 80 %. It is still important to continue improving the completeness, even if we achieve the quality goals.
Estimated relative survival five years after surgery is 89,7 % (stage I–III only), and for all stages combined, the five year relative survival is 70,7 % (irrespective of surgery and or other treatment). Estimated rate for colon cancer patients stage I-III who do not develop metastasis five years after surgery is 86,7 %, and has remained stable the last few years.
Over the last five years, the postoperative mortality rate up to 100 days following elective surgery of colon cancer stage I–III was 2,1 %. This is within the quality target that is set to no more than 3 % postoperative mortality. There is still some variation between hospitals in the use of laparoscopy, but most hospitals are well within the optimal target level.
National guidelines suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer patients should start within 4-6 weeks, and no later than eight weeks after surgery. During the last two years, 95,2 % of stage III colon cancer patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, receives the first dose within eight weeks after surgery.
Summary rectal cancer
The quality indicators for rectal cancer show that ten out of twelve indicators reach the target for optimal achievement, one indicator show a moderate level of achievement and one indicator has low level of achievement. The reporting rate for clinical reports is 85,9 % for diagnostic work-up and 96,2 % for surgery reports.
Estimated relative survival five years after surgery for stage I-III rectal cancer is 92,2 %, and for all stages combined, the five year relative survival is 74,6 % (irrespective of surgery and or other treatment). Estemated rate for rectal cancer patients stage I-III who do not develop metastasis five years after surgery is 82,0 %, and has remained stable
the last few years. The proportion of patients receiving radiation treatment before surgery is 44,7 %. Laparoscopic surgery for patients with rectal cancer is used in 94,0 %.
Measuring the distance from primary tumor to the mesorectal fascia (MRF) has significance for choice of preoperative treatment for rectal cancer. In 2024 the distance from tumor to MRF was reported in 72,2 % of the clinical reports for T3 tumors, indicating moderate achievement for the indicator. There is still variation between the hospitals.