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Published in: Surgical Endoscopy 8/2007

01-08-2007

Care within a Veterans Hospital

Earlier detection of colon cancer

Authors: P. van Roessel, R. V. Rouse, S. M. Wren

Published in: Surgical Endoscopy | Issue 8/2007

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Abstract

Background

In 1998 the Veterans Administration mandated an externally monitored targeted colon cancer screening rate that was expected to result in earlier cancer detection and improved patient survival. The effectiveness of the protocol was evaluated in a retrospective case series at a tertiary care Veterans Administration Hospital that included all patients with the diagnosis of colon cancer between 1991 and 2003.

Methods

Tumor stage, tumor location, and patient survival data were recorded and compared to National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) benchmarks.

Results

The study facility had a greater percentage of early cancers and fewer later stage cancers than the NCDB benchmark. Overall survival was better for the VA cohort compared to NCDB (all-cause 5-year survival: VA, 0.72; NCDB, 0.47. p ≤ .001).

Conclusions

The VA facility had a significantly greater percentage of early cancers and fewer stage III or IV cancers compared to a national benchmark and significantly improved survival compared to the national benchmark.
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Metadata
Title
Care within a Veterans Hospital
Earlier detection of colon cancer
Authors
P. van Roessel
R. V. Rouse
S. M. Wren
Publication date
01-08-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Surgical Endoscopy / Issue 8/2007
Print ISSN: 0930-2794
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2218
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-006-9184-6

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