Colorectal Carcinoma in Young Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal carcinoma is hardly found in individuals below 50 years of age, and there are still controversies regarding its behavior and prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, histopathological and treatment of patients with colorectal carcinoma, comparing the age groups up to 50 years and older than 50 years. Method: This is a descriptive study, which examined records of 505 patients with colorectal carcinoma, treated from January 1998 to December 2008. Clinical and pathological parameters were collected. Results: Individuals aged 50 years or less accounted for 26.53% of the sample and there was no gender predilection. Change in bowel habits such as initial complaint to the physical examination and anemia were significantly more common in the younger group. Patients aged 50 years or younger also showed more advanced lymph nodes staging, higher incidence of squamous cell or neuroendocrine carcinoma and worse histopathological differentiation, as well as increased local recurrence, despite a higher rate of surgical treatment and chemotherapy. Conclusion: The colorectal carcinomas in younger patients were more aggressive and undifferentiated. The complaints, even from young patients, should be promptly investigated to enable early diagnosis and a higher chance of cure for patients with colorectal carcinoma.