Non-familial paediatric colorectal cancers--an 18 years' experience.
BACKGROUND
Primary gastrointestinal malignancies constitute only 1% of all paediatric neoplasms.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe our 18 years' experience with non-familial paediatric colorectal malignancies, outlining pertinent features of diagnosis, treatment and outcome.


METHODS
9 patients of non-familial paediatric colorectal malignancies were admitted in PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana between 1990 and 2008. After the initial surgical management, the advanced cases underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy where required and were followed up.


RESULTS
There were six male and three female patients (age range: 7 to 16 years). Three tumours arose in the rectum, three in the sigmoid colon, one each in the splenic flexure and appendix, and there was one case of diffuse colonic polyposis. All cases presented with obstruction and rectal bleeding. Two cases of sigmoid carcinoma were unresectable and expired 4 months post-surgery. The rest responded to radical resection. Three patients required palliative radiation therapy. Due to the advanced stage, chemotherapy was given to all the carcinoma patients. One patient had local recurrence after 5 months and another developed distant metastasis. The rest are on follow-up and clinically and radiologically disease free.


CONCLUSIONS
Paediatric colorectal malignancy is a rare entity, usually diagnosed in the later stages, culminating in advanced disease. A majority of cases undergo radical resection due to the advanced stage of presentation. Advanced stages may also require chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Nair
Vimoj
V
Department of Radiation Therapy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Regional Cancer Centre, Rohtak, Haryana, India. vim4u4ever@hotmail.com
Rattan
Kamal Nayan
KN
Kaushal
Vivek
V
Atri
Rajeev
R
Dhankar
Rakesh
R
Kaur
Paramjeet
P
Kadian
Joginder
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002648:Child; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome