225 cases were included. These were 131 men and 94 women, i.e. a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.39. The average age was 52.3 years (4 - 90 years extremes). The most affected age group was between 46 - 60 years (41.3%), followed by those over 60 years (27.1%). Patients under 30 years were involved in 8% of cases. In our series, 126 patients (56%) were black (86 Harratin, 39 Black African Mauritanian and 1Senegalese) and 99 other (44%) Caucasians (98 Moors and 1 Iraqi).

An adenomatous polyp was found in 7 patients and anadenomatous polyposis in 3 patients. In 4 patients there was a tumour recurrence (three rectal and one sigmoid location). Only one family history of colorectal cancer was found.

The main clinical manifestations were: rectal bleeding (26.9%), occlusive syndrome (16.5%). The other symptoms were weight loss (13.5%), transit disorders (11.6%), rectal syndrome (6.4%), anal mass or haemorrhoidal syndrome (6.2%), clinical anaemia (4.4%), abdominal mass (4.4%) and appendiceal syndrome (1.3%) (Table 1).

Low gastro intestinal endoscopy was performed in 64.8% of patients (92 sigmoidoscopies and 54 colonoscopies) and abdominal tomography in 21.1% of cases. Colorectal cancers were divided into 85 rectal cancers (37%) and 142 colon cancers (63%). Two cases of synchronous localizations (caecum and colon caecum + left-sided colon and caecum + recto sigmoid) were found. Endoscopic lesions were of the stenosing (45.2%), ulcero-burgeoning (39%), ulcerous (7.5%) and burgeoning types (4.7%). Table 2 shows the distribution of colorectal cancers by location.

Tumour markers (CEA and CA 19-9) were assayed in 25 patients (11.1%). A high rate was found in 10 of them (40%). Anaemia was presented in 16 patients. An anatomo- pathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma in 88.9% of cases. Table 3 shows the frequency of different histological types.

125 patients underwent a CT scan (103 colon cancers and 22 rectal cancers). Overall,

metastasis was found in 42 patients (33%). Of the 103 colon cancers, 29 cases (28%) of metastasis were found (11 livers, 6 lung, 8 peritoneal carcinosis, 6 lymph node, 4 small intestines, 7 adnexal and 1 brain). Of the 22 rectal cancers, there wasa metastasis in 13 cases (59%) (3 livers, 6 lungs, 5 adnexal, 2 lymph node, 1 small intestine and 1 peritoneal carcinosis). Only 95 cancers received the Astler and Coller classification presented in Table 4.

Among the 225 patients, 167 (74.2%) received treatment. The remaining 58 (25.7%)

were lost to follow-up. The treatment was curative (surgery) in 135 cases (80.83%) and palliative (chemotherapy or radiation) in 32 cases (19.1%). Curative treatment involved 44 (86.2%) cancers of the right-sided colon, 47 (79.6%) cancers of the left-sided colon and 45 (78.9%) of rectal cancers.

The African series on colorectal cancer are primarily derived from hospital data. Over a period of 5 years, 225 cases of CRC were collected. This figure is higher than those found in Senegal by Sarr et al. [10] and Konate et al. [5] who reported 15 and 71 cases, respectively. In Togo, Darré et al. [11] in the pathology department reported 57 colorectal cancers over a 10 year period, representing 2.8% of all cancers.

The average age of 52.3 years corroborates with the African data [5] [7] [12] . Averages of younger age are reported by others [13] [14] . This predominance of cases prior to the sixth decade was also reported in the United States among African-Americans [15] . In the Europe, colorectal cancer occurs more frequently in elderly persons [1] [2] [3] . Colorectal cancer is a predominantly male condition. However, Sarr et al. [10] in Senegal, Diarra et al. [8] in Mali and Diallo et al. [13] [15] in Gabon reported a sex ratio in favour of women.

In our series, 56% were black people and 44% white people. A North American study conducted by Sangeeta et al. [16] reported an increase in CRC incidence in African- Americans compared to white people. Apart from genetic predisposition, environmen- tal factors and poverty limiting access to health care are probably involved.

Rectal bleeding was the CRC discovery circumstance in 26.9% of cases. This symptom is quite frequently reported by African authors in proportions of 43 to 46% [5] [13] . It is usually the proof indicative of a rectal injury (65% in this location). Saïdi et al. [17] in Kenya found it in 79% of rectal localization and 21% of colon among 253 CRCs. Occlusive syndrome usually complicates left-sided colonic tumour. This is a symptom of poor prognosis. In the series of 22 cancers revealed by an occlusion of Konaté et al. [6] , 50% of patients died within a year after surgery. The frequency of other revealing manifestations varies according the authors [6] [10] [13] .

The diagnosis of CRC was established through the lowerendoscopy in 65% of cases. In the surgical series, the endoscopy achievement rate is lower between 49% and 56.4% [5] [13] . This low achievement rate is probably due to the lack of equipment and sometimes to a peroperative revelation. In most studies, colonic location predominates. Konaté et al. [5] in Senegal reported more colonic locations in 59.2% against 40.8% in the rectum. A similar distribution is found in Gabon with 57% and 42%, respectively [13] . However, a more rectal location was reported in Marocco in 57% [15] .

Adenocarcinoma is the predominant histologic lesion (88.9%). This is in accordance with African and international literature data. Carcinomas come second with 3.1% [1] [2] [3] [11] [12] [15] . Thoracic-abdominal-pelvic tomography scanis the gold standard for extension work-up. However, only 55% of our patients received it due to financial inaccessibility. None of our patients underwent a rectal echo endoscopy because of unavailability of the latter. Overall, metastasis was found in 42 patients (33%). Of the 103 colon cancers, 29 cases (28%) of metastasis were found. Of the 22 rectal cancers, there was a metastasis in 13 cases (59%).

In Africa, colorectal cancer is diagnosed at a later stage. Of the 95 cancers that received the Astler and Coller classification, 49% were discovered at a stage where the tumour did not enter through the colonic wall (Stage B), 36% already had a loco-regional invasion (Stage C) and 15% were metastatic (Stage D). In Mali, Traoré et al. [18] reported 28.8%, 50% and 21.2% for the stages II, III and IV, respectively using the TNM classification. In the Gabonese series [13] , patients in stages II and III represented 34% and 46%, respectively. Similar data are reported in the Maghreb with 41.6% for stage II and37.5% for stage III [12] . However, in Europe and the United States the diagnosis is madeat an earlier stage through mass screening and in patients at risk [1] [3] [4] [16] .

Only 74.2% underwent surgery and 37% received adjuvant treatment. Our national oncology center that can provide this treatment was only established in 2010 and the cost of treatment is borne by patients. In rectal cancer, Bonjer et al. [19] report similar results between open surgery and laparoscopy. In our series, we were not able to study the survival because of the retrospective nature of the study and the high percentage of lost to follow-up. African data show a low rate of 5-year survival. In Senegal, it stands at 5% in colorectal cancer and 15% in rectal cancer [6] [7] . In 25 European Union countries the average value of the 5-year survival is greater than 50% [1] . In these countries, the screening and treatment of polyps as well as mass screening account for this improved prognosis [20] . However, there is a need to improve education on CRC screening [21] .