Colorectal cancer in children: epidemiologic aspects

Despite many similarities to colorectal cancer in adults, the rare childhood form has some peculiarities. Childhood mortality is greater among Negroes than Caucasians, particularly in boys, reflecting the rising incidence of this tumor in the young Negro population. In addition, the percentage of childhood cases with precancerous diseases (polyposis, colitis) appears greater than in adults. Most striking is the high percentage of mucin-producing tumors in young people with colorectal cancer. The mucoid tumors tend to occur after the age of 10 years, whereas younger children are more likely to develop non-mucoid carcinoma in an adenomatous polyp.