The clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer in patients under 50 years of age: Experience of an oncology center

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer is seen mostly among patients older than 50 years of age. An aggressive behavior is a frequently cited as characteri stic of colorectal cancer in young patients. The purpose of the present stu dy was to reveal the clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer among patients under 50 years of age. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-one patients with colorectal cancer admitt ed to our oncology center were evaluated, and clinicopathologic findings of the young and old patients were compared. Patient gender, site distributio n, tumor stage classification, lymph node involvement, metastatic site, his tologic classification, histologic differentiation, family history of malig nant tumors, presenting symptoms and survival rates were compared. Results: One hundred patients were 50 years of age or under. Clinical, hist opathologic characteristics and overall survival of the two groups did not differ. A higher rate of familial cancer syndromes was detected among young patients. Conclusions: The presentation and outcome of the disease in young patients do not differ from those of older patients. A significant family history of colorectal cancer in the young patients showed the need for screening wher eas the outcome of metastatic disease was poor. In order to anticipate long survival, early detection and aggressive treatment is necessary.