摘要
AIM:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer(CRC)in patients under 50 years of age across two institutions.METHODS:Records of patients under age 50 years of age who had CRC surgery over a 16 year period were assessed at two institutions.The following documents where reviewed:admission notes,operative notes,and discharge summaries.The main study variables included:age,presenting symptoms,family history,tumor location,operation,stage/differentiation of disease,and post operative complications.Stage of disease was classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system:tumor depth;node status;and metastases.RESULTS:CRC was found in 180 patients under age50 years(87 females,93 males;mean age 41.4±6.2years).Young patients accounted for 11.2%of cases during a 6 year period for which the full data set wasavailable.Eight percent had a 1stdegree and 12%a 2nd degree family CRC history.Almost all patients(94%)were symptomatic at diagnosis;common symptoms included:bleeding(59%),obstruction(9%),and abdominal/rectal pain(35%).Evaluation was often delayed and bleeding frequently attributed to hemorrhoids.Advanced stage CRC(Stage 3 or 4)was noted in 53%of patients.Most tumors were distal to the splenic flexure(77%)and 39%involved the rectum.Most patients(95%)had segmental resections;6 patients had subtotal/total colectomy.Poorly differentiated tumors were noted in 12%and mucinous lesions in 19%of patients of which most had Stage 3 or 4 disease.Twenty-two patients(13%)developed recurrence and/or progression of disease to date.Three patients(ages 42,42and 49 years)went on to develop metachronous primary colon cancers within 3 to 4 years of their initial resection.CONCLUSION:CRC was common in young patients with no family history.Young patients with symptoms merit a timely evaluation to avoid presentation with late stage CRC.
AIM:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer(CRC) in patients under 50 years of age across two institutions.METHODS:Records of patients under age 50 years of age who had CRC surgery over a 16 year period were assessed at two institutions.The following documents where reviewed:admission notes,operative notes,and discharge summaries.The main study variables included:age,presenting symptoms,family history,tumor location,operation,stage/differentiation of disease,and post operative complications.Stage of disease was classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system:tumor depth; node status; and metastases.RESULTS:CRC was found in 180 patients under age50 years(87 females,93 males; mean age 41.4 ± 6.2years).Young patients accounted for 11.2% of cases during a 6 year period for which the full data set wasavailable.Eight percent had a 1stdegree and 12% a 2nd degree family CRC history.Almost all patients(94%)were symptomatic at diagnosis; common symptoms included:bleeding(59%),obstruction(9%),and abdominal/rectal pain(35%).Evaluation was often delayed and bleeding frequently attributed to hemorrhoids.Advanced stage CRC(Stage 3 or 4) was noted in 53%of patients.Most tumors were distal to the splenic flexure(77%) and 39% involved the rectum.Most patients(95%) had segmental resections; 6 patients had subtotal/total colectomy.Poorly differentiated tumors were noted in 12% and mucinous lesions in 19% of patients of which most had Stage 3 or 4 disease.Twenty-two patients(13%) developed recurrence and/or progression of disease to date.Three patients(ages 42,42and 49 years) went on to develop metachronous primary colon cancers within 3 to 4 years of their initial resection.CONCLUSION:CRC was common in young patients with no family history.Young patients with symptoms merit a timely evaluation to avoid presentation with late stage CRC.
