title: Differences in characteristics of colorectal neoplasm between young and elderly Thais.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the differences of clinical characteristics of colorectal neoplasm including polyps between the elderly and young Thai patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colonoscopy database from December 2000 to October 2004 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 1822 eligible patients who underwent colonoscopy (with a mean age of 56.6 years). Patients were classified into two groups: the older age group (aged > or = 60 years; n = 989) and the younger age group (aged < 60 years; n = 833). Data were recorded on age, colonoscopic indications, tumor location, colonoscopic findings and their related histological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colorectal malignancy related lesions were more often found in the older age group (21%) than in the younger age group (12%). Left-sided lesions were detected more commonly than right-sided in both age groups in approximately two-thirds of all cases. Hematochezia showed greater association with left-sided lesions in the elderly. No relationship was found between age and neoplasm staging and severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chance of detecting colorectal neoplasm by colonoscopy was higher in the elderly than in the young Thais. However, both groups had the lesions predominantly located in the left side.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. rungsun@pol.net
authors.forename: Rungsun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rerknimitr
authors.forename: Winudda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ratanapanich
authors.forename: Pradermchai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongkam
authors.forename: Pinit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kullavanijaya
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand