[Comparison of the clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal cancer between elderly and young patients].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinicopathological characteristics between elderly and young patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
A total of 727 patients with CRC treated between Jan 2003 and Dec 2005 were divided into elderly group (≥ 60 years old), middle-aged group (36-59 years old), and young group (≤ 35 years old). The clinicopathological characteristics of the 3 groups were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The tumor occurred mainly in the rectum, sigmoid colon and ascending colon of the patients. The major initial symptoms included hemafecia and changes in bowel habits in the elderly and middle-aged cases, as compared to abdominal pain and hemafecia in the young group. The elderly patients had greater ratio of well differentiated neoplasm than the middle-aged and young patients. The ratio of radical operation was markedly higher in the elderly and middle-aged group than in the young group. The elderly patients were more likely to have stage II and III tumors than the middle-aged and young patients, having also significantly higher incidences of such complications as heart and lung diseases upon diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the middle-aged and young patients, elderly patients with CRC are more likely to have well differentiated tumor, multiple complications upon diagnosis, and higher radical operation rate.
Dong
Qiu-mei
QM
Department of Oncology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China. dqmzhang@163.com
Zheng
Wei-hua
WH
He
You-jian
YJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged