Colorectal carcinoma in persons under 40 years of age

A retrospective review of 30 patients under 40 years of age with colorectal cancer is described. Sex ratio was almost equal. The presenting symptoms depended on the localisation of the tumor, and the length of the clinical history averaged 18 weeks. No correlation was found between duration of symptoms and prognosis. 26 patients were operated on electively. In 3 patients the tumor was found by chance and one case presented with intestinal obstruction. Left-sided tumor location was found in 73%. Patients with right-sided tumors had a slightly better prognosis (p = NS). Radical surgery was performed in 20 patients (67%). The operative mortality was 0%. Localized cancer was found in 12 patients, and 18 patients had lymph nodes or distant metastasis. 11 patients (37%) have survived 5 years or more. It is concluded that colorectal cancer in patients under 40 differs in no respect from the disease in older patients.