Time to Management of Colorectal Cancer: Audit of the Gastroenterology Department at Mongi Slim Hospital Audit of Time to Colorectal Cancer Management Section Original articles

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published Apr 30, 2026
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v104i04.6598
Download
PDF
Vol. 104 No. 04 (2026): Tunis Med Apr 2026

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Abdelwahab Nakhli
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis,University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Cyrine Ben Mehrez
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Oussema Ghachem
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Amal Jerbi
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Zeineb Benzarti
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Yosr El Mouldi
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Bochra Bouchabou
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.
Rym Ennaifer
Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Mongi Slim Hospital, 2046, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 1068,Tunis, Tunisia.

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue in Tunisia. This study aimed to evaluate the time to management of CRC at Mongi Slim Hospital and identify factors associated with a longer delay.


Methods: Retrospective study including adult patients with histologically confirmed CRC treated with curative intent between April 2013 and December 2019.


Results: Fifty-four patients were included (mean age 63 years, male-to-female ratio 1.16). The mean diagnosis-to-treatment interval was 44 days (median 33). Delay (>30 days) occurred in 57% of patients. Predictors of delay were staging in the public sector and outpatient management.


Conclusion: More than half of the patients experienced delayed management. Structural and organizational measures are required to improve timelines and CRC prognosis.

Keywords:

Colorectal cancer , Time to treatment, Audit , Tunisia , Epidemiology

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

  1. Baidoun F, Farchoukh K, Shah A, Eli Sahely S, Chakilam S, Azzam J, et al. Colorectal Cancer Epidemiology: Recent Trends and Impacts on
  2. Outcomes. Curr Drug Targets. 2021;22(9):998-1009.
  3. Khiari H, Hsairi M, Azzabi S. Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Tunisia. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017;18(10):2733-9.
  4. Haute Autorité de Santé. ALD n°30 – Cancer colorectal. Saint-Denis La Plaine: HAS; 2012.
  5. Whittaker TM, Abdelrazek ME, Thaha MA. Delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment. Colorectal Dis. 2021;23(7):1699-1711.
  6. Padilla-Ruiz M, Rivas-Ruiz F, Redondo M. Time to Treatment and Survival in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
  7. ;19:3626.
  8. Porta M, Fernandez E, Belloc J. The influence of diagnostic and therapeutic delays on survival. J Epidemiol Community Health.
  9. ;45:225-30.
  10. Olesen F, Hansen RP, Vedsted P. Delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Br J Cancer. 2009;101(Suppl 2):S5-8.
  11. Bouvier AM, Belot A, Manfredi S. Délais de prise en charge du cancer colorectal en France. Bull Epidémiol Hebd. 2013;(43-45):581-9.
  12. Langenbach MR, Schmidt J, Zirngibl H. Delay in treatment of colorectal cancer. World J Surg. 2003;27(3):304-8.
  13. Abu-Helalah MA, Al-Hanaqta MM, Al-Asasfeh AM. Delays in presentation and treatment of colorectal cancer in Jordan. J
  14. Gastrointest Cancer. 2015;47(1):36-46.
  15. Ben Fouila F. Évaluation des délais de prise en charge du cancer colorectal. Rabat: Institut National d’Oncologie; 2023.
  16. Aarts MJ, Lemmens VE, Louwman MW. Socioeconomic status and treatment of colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2010;46(15):2681-95.
  17. Zarcos-Pedrinaci I, Fernandez-Lopez A, Tellez-Tellez M. Factors associated with management delay in colorectal cancer. Oncotarget.
  18. ;8(22):36728-42.
  19. Danish Surgical Society. National guidelines for colorectal cancer management. Copenhagen: DSS; 2004.