An unusual presentation of carcinoma of the colon in a child. A case report.
A patient with carcinoma of the large bowel who presented with a subphrenic abscess is reported. This case emphasizes two important facts relating to colonic cancer in childhood: (i) premalignant disease of the large bowel is no prerequisite for the development of colonic cancer; and (ii) in childhood this disease is characterized by a fulminating course and high mortality. In about 50% of cases the tumour is of the signet ring or mucin-producing type, which explains the grave prognosis.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013369:Subphrenic Abscess / Q000150:complications*