Danish Colorectal Cancer Group Database

Abstract

Aim of databaseThe aim of the database, which has existed for registration of all patients with colorectal cancer in Denmark since 2001, is to improve the prognosis for this patient group.Study populationAll Danish patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer who are either diagnosed or treated in a surgical department of a public Danish hospital.Main variablesThe database comprises an array of surgical, radiological, oncological, and pathological variables. The surgeons record data such as diagnostics performed, including type and results of radiological examinations, lifestyle factors, comorbidity and performance, treatment including the surgical procedure, urgency of surgery, and intra- and postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. The pathologists record data such as tumor type, number of lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes, surgical margin status, and other pathological risk factors.Descriptive dataThe database has had >95% completeness in including patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma with >54,000 patients registered so far with approximately one-third rectal cancers and two-third colon cancers and an overrepresentation of men among rectal cancer patients. The stage distribution has been more or less constant until 2014 with a tendency toward a lower rate of stage IV and higher rate of stage I after introduction of the national screening program in 2014. The 30-day mortality rate after elective surgery has been reduced from >7% in 2001–2003 to <2% since 2013.ConclusionThe database is a national population-based clinical database with high patient and data completeness for the perioperative period. The resolution of data is high for description of the patient at the time of diagnosis, including comorbidities, and for characterizing diagnosis, surgical interventions, and short-term outcomes. The database does not have high-resolution oncological data and does not register recurrences after primary surgery. The Danish Colorectal Cancer Group provides high-quality data and has been documenting an increase in short- and long-term survivals since it started in 2001 for both patients with colon and rectal cancers.

Nationwide population-based cohort study to assess risk of surgery for adhesive small bowel obstruction following open or laparoscopic rectal cancer resection

“…The main strengths of this study include a nationwide population, the size of the cohort, virtually complete registration to the DCCG database, high data accuracy and long‐term follow‐up18. As only patients with intended curative rectal cancer resection were included in the study in order to create a homogeneous study cohort, it seems unlikely that a significant number of patients would have developed adhesive SBO as a result of recurrent intraperitoneal disease.…”

“…The Danish Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) database is nationwide and records information (diagnostics, treatment, postoperative complications within 30 days, and pathology) on all patients with a first‐time diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma using a prospectively developed database18. DCCG has a patient completeness rate of more than 99 per cent19 and registration began in May 2001.…”

Endoscopic ultrasonography and computed tomography scanning for preoperative staging of colonic cancer

“…CT scans were performed with a 64-slice and 128-slice CT system (PHILIPS 64-slice Brilliance® MDCT, Philips, Netherlands/SIEMENS Somatom® definition Flash 128-slice, Siemens, Germany) according to the instructions at the departments and following Danish Colorectal Cancer Group Guidelines [14].…”

“…The only potentially curative treatment for colonic cancer is surgery [2]. In contrast, neoadjuvant treatment, for locally advanced cancers, is part of the standard treatment regimen for many gastrointestinal cancers, such as oesophageal [25] and rectal cancer [14]. Based on preliminary results, patients with locally advanced colonic cancer may be offered neoadjuvant therapy in the future [3].…”

Nationwide cohort study of the impact of education, income and social isolation on survival after acute colorectal cancer surgery

“…The DCCG.dk database is a nationwide clinical database established in 2001, registering all incident cases of colorectal cancer in Denmark, with a greater than 95 per cent patient coverage 12 . Patients are registered in the database when they are diagnosed and/or treated for colorectal cancer at any Danish surgical department 12 .…”