Primary-to-secondary care referral experience of suspected colorectal malignancy in young adults

Colorectal cancer in patients younger than 50 years of age is increasing steadily in the UK with limited guidelines available indicating need for secondary care referral. The aims of this study were to report the cancer incidence in those aged under 50 years referred to secondary care with suspected colorectal malignancy and also to analyse the quality of those referrals.

A total of 197 primary care referrals made between 2008 and 2014 to a UK district general hospital for suspected colorectal malignancy were analysed. All confirmed cancers were further evaluated regarding presenting symptoms, tumour characteristics and clinical outcomes. Each referral was given a referral performance score (out of 9) dependant on relevant information documented.

The overall malignancy rate was 9.1% (11 male and 7 female patients). The median age in this cohort was 41.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 37-49 years). Abdominal pain was the only presenting symptom to differ significantly when comparing malignant with non-malignant patients (44.4% vs 21.8% respectively, p=0.042). The median time period between referral date and colorectal specialist consultation was 11 days (IQR: 7-13 days) and the median referral performance score was 5 (range: 3-9).

Malignancy is prevalent in patients under 50 years of age who are referred to secondary care for suspected colorectal cancer. Those referred with abdominal pain in the presence of other high risk lower gastrointestinal symptoms are at significant risk of having a malignancy. Major deficiencies are apparent in urgent primary care referrals, highlighting the need for further national guidance to aid early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the young.