The symptoms, histology, extent and course of disease in 16 adolescent
s with colorectal carcinoma who were admitted to Hacettepe University
Children's Hospital between 1972 and 1990 are presented. Most patients
presented with vague abdominal complaints. Twelve of the 16 patients
had mucin-producing adenocarcinoma. Extensive disease at diagnosis and
unresponsiveness to medical management were determined. Only one pati
ent survived free of disease four yeats after diagnosis. Nine of the p
atients died between one day and one year following the initial surger
y. The remaining six patients were very ill when they were discharged
from the hospital, after which time no Information was received concer
ning them.