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Metastatic Colon Cancer in an 18-Year-Old without Predisposing Factors
Divya Mirchandani1, Jolanta Kulpa1, Nayaab Khawar1
1Department of Pediatrics, New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA.
Insights
Pediatric colon cancer is rare but presents with symptoms like weight loss and bleeding. Unexplained weight loss in adolescents warrants investigation for malignancy, even without a family history.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Gastrointestinal Oncology
Background:
- Colorectal carcinoma is a common adult cancer but rare in children (1:1,000,000 incidence).
- Malignant neoplasms are a leading cause of mortality in the pediatric population.
- Symptoms like weight loss, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain can mimic other pediatric conditions, including anorexia or appendicitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of considering colon cancer in adolescents presenting with unintentional weight loss.
- To emphasize the need for thorough investigation of unexplained weight loss and altered bowel habits in children.
Main Methods:
- This study presents a case report of a pediatric patient with colorectal carcinoma.
- Diagnostic considerations for presenting symptoms are discussed.
Main Results:
- The case illustrates that colorectal carcinoma can occur in adolescents.
- Presenting symptoms can be non-specific, leading to delayed diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Significant unintentional weight loss and altered bowel habits in adolescents necessitate a search for underlying malignancy.
- A diagnosis of colon cancer should be considered in pediatric patients, even without a positive family history or known cancer syndromes.
Abstract:
While colorectal carcinoma is a common gastrointestinal cancer in adults, it is rare in pediatrics with an incidence of 1 : 1,000,000 and represents a fraction of neoplasms encountered in children. Malignant neoplasms represent a major cause of mortality in the pediatric age group. While presenting with weight loss, iron deficiency, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and change in bowel habits, or symptoms similar to acute appendicitis, the working diagnosis may be considered to be anorexia. This case illustrates the importance of considering colon cancer among other disease entities as a cause of unintentional weight loss in adolescents. While this is a rare occurrence in the pediatric population, significant unintentional weight loss with altered bowel habits should prompt a search for underlying malignancy-even in the absence of a positive family history or predisposing cancer syndromes.
