Improvements in population-based survival of patients presenting with metastatic rectal cancer in the south of the Netherlands, 1992-2008

textabstractWe analysed population-based treatment and survival data of patientswho presented with metastatic rectal cancer. All patients diagnosed with primary synchronous metastatic rectal cancer between 1992 and 2008 in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry area were included. Date of diagnosis was divided into three periods (1992-1999, 2000-2004, 2005-2008) according to the availability of chemotherapy type. We assessed treatment patterns and overall survival according to period of diagnosis. The proportion of patients diagnosed with stage IV disease increased from 16% in 1992-1999 to 20% in 2005-2008 (P<0.0001). Chemotherapy use increased from 5%in 1992 to 61%in 2008 (P<0.0001). Resection rates of the primary tumour decreasedfrom 65% in 1992 to 27% in 2008 (P