Retrospective Evaluation of Patients Aged 45 Years or Younger Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer

Aim: The incidence of colorectal carcinoma is less common under 45 years of age when compared to older patients. In the last decades, the prognosis, pathological, genetic and physiological behavior of the tumor in young patients gained the attention of the researchers. It is a reality that nowadays, colorectal cancers are more commonly encountered in younger population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed colorectal cancer patients who had been under 45 years of age and operated on in our surgery clinic in a period of 6 years. Forty-one young patients out of a total of 331 patients with colorectal carcinoma were evaluated. Gender, age, tumor markers, anemia, pathology reports, in addition to Dukes classification and histological subtype (mucinous or non-mucinous) were recorded. Results: 25 patients were male (61%) and 16 were female (39%).The most common complaint was restlessness and the most common type was non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. The most common locations were rectum and sigmoid colon, in 23 (56%) and 11 (27%) patients, respectively. While 1 patient (2%) was in stage A, almost half of the patients (49%) were in stage D. Conclusion: Colorectal carcinoma in young individuals is usually encountered in males and is often in advanced stage at time of diagnosis, in addition to more aggressive behavior when compared to elderly patients. (The Me di cal Bul le tin of Ha se ki 2011; 49: 110-3)