Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological features and oncologic disparities between stage 1-3 right versus left colon cancer patients treated with surgery. Methods: In this retrospective study, 220 patients who underwent surgery for stage 1-3 colon cancer between 2014 and 2020 were divided into two groups according to tumor localization: right and left colon tumors. The two groups' demographics, tumor characteristics, and clinical presentation were evaluated comparatively. Oncological outcomes, local and distant recurrence, and overall survival rates were analyzed. Results: Out of 220 patients, 35% were diagnosed with right colon cancer, while 65% were diagnosed with left colon cancer. Right colon tumors were more prevalent among older women and typically manifested with anemia and bleeding. Conversely, left colon tumors were more common in young men and often presented with changes in bowel habits. Additionally, right colon tumors were linked to unfavorable histopathological characteristics such as poor differentiation and high microsatellite instability. Despite these distinctions, there was no significant variance in the 5-year survival rates between the two groups (83.4% vs. 85%). Conclusion: This study highlights the critical differences between right and left colon cancers in clinical presentation and tumor characteristics. Although tumor location did not significantly impact early-stage prognosis, right colon tumors were more frequently diagnosed at advanced stages, emphasizing the importance of early detection for better treatment outcomes. Keywords: Early stage colon cancer, left colon cancer, right colon cancer, clinicopathological differences, survival
Corresponding Author: Ezgi Degerli