title: Overall prognosis in younger patients with colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prognosis of colorectal cancer in younger patients is a controversial issue. While survival after curative resection seems not worse than in older patients, few data are available about the overall survival of younger patient with colorectal cancer irrespective of receiving a curative treatment or not. In this study we have reviewed our experience with patients under 45 years of age affected by colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 358 patients with colorectal cancer were operated on between 2001 and 2005. Nineteen patients were younger than 45. Schedules were reviewed as to palliative vs curative resection, Duke's classification, tumor grading, and compared with data from patients older than 45.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Though no significant difference in survival can be detected after curative resection, fewer patients less than 45 years are eligible to be treated curatively. Significantly worse tumor grading and rates of curative resection make for a poorer prognosis in younger patients when compared with older ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prognosis for colorectal cancer in the overall group of patients less than 45 years is worse than in older patients. Younger patients more frequently present with distant metastases or peritoneal carcinosis which preclude the possibility of a curative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. mauronervi@tin.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nervi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gambaccini
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome