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Colorectal carcinoma in different age groups: a population-based investigation
R Fante1, P Benatti, C di Gregorio
1The Colorectal Cancer Study Group, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologiche e Medico Legali, Università di Modena, Italy.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|October 8, 1997
Summary
Colorectal cancer is rare before age 40, but 12% of cases occur between 41-55. Hereditary factors significantly increase early-onset risk, and these younger patients show a better prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) is typically diagnosed in older individuals.
- However, a notable percentage of CRC cases occur in patients under 55.
- Understanding the characteristics of early-onset CRC is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features of early-onset colorectal cancer.
- To investigate the prevalence of inherited colorectal tumors in different age groups.
- To compare the prognosis of early-onset CRC with that of older patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a population-based cancer registry (1984-1992).
- Categorization of patients into three early-onset groups: <40, 41-50, and 51-55 years.
- Evaluation of tumor location, pathological stage, histological type, and survival rates.
Main Results:
- CRC under 40 was rare (1.1%), while 12% of cases were aged 41-55.
- Hereditary colorectal tumors (e.g., HNPCC) were significantly more frequent in younger patients (38.4% in <40 group).
- Early-onset cases, as a whole, demonstrated a more favorable 5-year survival prognosis compared to older individuals.
Conclusions:
- Colorectal cancer incidence rises in the 41-55 age group.
- A strong inverse relationship exists between age of onset and the frequency of genetically determined colorectal tumors.
- Early-onset colorectal cancer patients generally have a better clinical outcome.