RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Western countries, with an incidence progressively increasing in developing countries. Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the second and third leading cause of death by cancer in females and males respectively. According to the Martinique Cancer Register data, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women, and the fourth in men. Colorectal cancer exhibits a variable distribution worldwide. This study was conducted to observe variations in colorectal incidence and mortality rates observed over a twenty-year period. Such data will be useful for monitoring changing trends related to onset of an organized screening program. METHOD: Patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed from 1981 to 2000 in Martinique were included in this study. Data are obtained from the Martinique Cancer Register. RESULTS: The incidence of colorectal cancer in Martinique (16/100,000 and 17/100,000 in the female and male population respectively in the year 2000) is intermediary compared with other countries worlwide. There is a current trend towards increased incidence and mortality. The incidence has increased for cancers localized in the proximal colon, the sigmoid colon and the rectum. CONCLUSION: The increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in all localisations raises concern in Martinique. A significant predominance of colorectal cancer incidence among the male population in Martinique was not observed. Gender and age do not appear to imply any preferential localisation of colorectal cancer.