RECTAL CARCINOMAS IN YOUNG-ADULTS - BASED UPON 38 CASES

This retrospective study is based upon 38 cases of rectal carcinomas o ccuring in young individuals aged under 25, collected during the 15 ye ar period from January 1978 to December 1993. The mean age of the pati ents was 23 (range: 14 to 25), with a gender ratio of 2.1, Histology r evealed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma in 12 cases, a moderately or slightly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinoma in 14 cases , a colloid carcinoma in 10 cases and a villous tumor with malignant c hange in 2 cases. Curative surgical excision was possible in only 11 p atients. Sixteen patients underwent a palliative procedure, while 12 r efused surgery. No treatment was proposed to 3 patients with visceral metastases. Only 11 patients could be followed up, with a mean 5-year survival rate of 10%. The prognosis of rectal carcinoma in young indiv iduals is poor because of late diagnosis at an advanced stage and the aggressive histologic forms encountered.