[The biological behavior of colorectal carcinoma in young patients]

Patients of the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán under 40 years of age with colorectal carcinoma were compared with similar patients above 40 in a retrospective and longitudinal study. Patterns of presentation, stage at diagnosis, degree of tumor differentiation and survival were analyzed. Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and weight loss were the most frequent clinical manifestations in both groups. Constipation was more common in the young adults (60.5% vs 34.2%; p less than 0.05). In both groups, rectosigmoid was the most frequent location of the neoplasm. Cecal carcinoma was found in 2.6% of patients under 40 years and in 11.8% (p less than 0.05) in older patients. There was a higher frequency of mucinous tumors in the young patients (26% vs 13%; p = NS). Colon cancer in both groups were in advanced stage at presentation. The survival rate for young adults was 30%, and 21% for the other group (p = NS). The degree of tumor differentiation did not affect survival in both groups. Dukes stage was the only prognostic factor identified. The need for early recognition of colorectal cancer in young adults is emphasized by the greater incidence of advanced disease and poor prognosis.