OBJECTIVE:To observe the symptom patts (or syndromes) according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory in patients with various stages of colorectal cancer,and to observe the dynamic evolution process of these TCM patts.METHODS:A prospective and cross-sectional questionnaire-based investigation was performed.Clinical data on TCM symptom patts in patients with colorectal cancer in the perioperative period (210 cases) and adjuvant treatment period (160 cases) were collected.EPIData 3.1 together with frequency statistics and cluster analyses were performed to identify the TCM patts based on symptom characteristics in patients with colorectal cancer,and to assess the dynamic changes in these patts.RESULTS:In the perioperative period,from the first day of perioperative care to postoperative days 3,7,and 10,the TCM patt showed a process of dynamic change from blood deficiency to deficiency of both Qi and Yin and the patt of dampness and hot accumulative knotting.In the adjuvant treatment period,the TCM patt changed from Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency inner-heat with dampness to a deficiency patt,primarily including Yin deficiency of the liver and kidney,deficiency of Qi and blood,and spleen deficiency.CONCLUSION:Our study confirmed that variations in the dynamic evolution of TCM symptom patts exist in patients with colorectal cancer during different treatment periods.This information is of great value in the individualized management of colorectal cancer.