LAUSR

Key Points Question Is rurality associated with receipt of surgery for nonmetastatic colon cancer? Findings In this cohort study of 57 710 Medicare beneficiaries with colon cancer, rural patients were more likely to undergo surgery but also more likely to receive emergent surgery and less likely to have minimally invasive surgery. Black race was independently associated with lower likelihood of surgery, and the association between rurality and postoperative mortality differed by race; rurality was protective against mortality for White beneficiaries, but rural-residing Black beneficiaries had increased postoperative mortality. Meaning Treatment and surgical outcomes in nonmetastatic colon cancer varied by rurality and by race and ethnicity, suggesting intersectional factors underlying disparities.