INCIDENCE, PROGNOSTIC FACTORS AND SURVIVA L OF THE YOUNG-ADULTS WITH COLORECTAL-CANCER

The incidence of colorectal cancer is low in young patients. Because o f the infrequent ocurrence of this disease in those less than 40 years of age many of the published reports give conflicting results. The ai m of this report is to study colorectal cancer in patients less than o r equal to 45 years old, a group rarely considered by other authors. W e analyzed retrospectively the clinical features of our patients with special reference to the clinical data, personal and family history, s ite of lesion, and Duke's classification. Potential risk factors were analyzed for their effect on the survival of these patients. Finally, to evaluate the prognostic influence of potential risk factors and det ect any interaction, a multivariate analysis was performed. We found 2 6 (17.2%) patients less than 45 years old with colorectal cancer. The clinical presentation, tumor site, and Duke's grade were similar in th e young adult and in the general population but morbidity, mortality a nd postoperative complications were lower. There were no differences i n resection or survival rates. Potential risk factors were no differen t from those of the general population.