Relationship between postoperative tumor recurrence time and long-term survival in colorectal cancer patients

Table 4 Analysis of recurrence patterns and sites between groups, n (%)

Recurrence characteristics	Early recurrence group (n = 63)	Late recurrence group (n = 57)	Statistical value	P value
Recurrence pattern			χ² = 4.673	0.097
Local recurrence only	12 (19.0)	18 (31.6)
Distant metastasis only	38 (60.3)	31 (54.4)
Combined local and distant	13 (20.6)	8 (14.0)
Distant metastasis sites
Liver metastasis	34 (54.0)	26 (45.6)	χ² = 0.863	0.353
Lung metastasis	20 (31.7)	13 (22.8)	χ² = 1.226	0.268
Peritoneal metastasis	11 (17.5)	8 (14.0)	χ² = 0.278	0.598
Bone metastasis	5 (7.9)	3 (5.3)	χ² = 0.349	0.555
Lymph node metastasis	9 (14.3)	6 (10.5)	χ² = 0.409	0.522
Brain metastasis	2 (3.2)	1 (1.8)	χ² = 0.267	0.605
Number of metastatic organs			χ² = 3.428	0.180
Single organ	32 (50.8)	35 (61.4)
Multiple organs (≥ 2)	19 (30.2)	12 (21.1)
Local recurrence only	12 (19.0)	10 (17.5)
Recurrence detection method			χ² = 1.865	0.393
Imaging examination	48 (76.2)	47 (82.5)
Tumor marker elevation	11 (17.5)	7 (12.3)
Clinical symptoms	4 (6.3)	3 (5.3)
Tumor markers at recurrence
CEA ≥ 5 ng/mL	50 (79.4)	34 (59.6)	χ² = 5.705	0.017
CEA level (ng/mL, median)	18.6 (6.3-45.2)	9.8 (3.7-28.5)	Z = 2.315	0.021
CA19-9 ≥ 37 U/mL	28 (44.4)	19 (33.3)	χ² = 1.592	0.207
Time to diagnosis (months, mean ± SD)	2.8 ± 1.6	3.2 ± 1.8	t = 1.289	0.200

Values in parentheses after median represent interquartile range. CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; CA19-9: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9.