title: Colorectal cancer: comparison of clinicopathologic features between Moroccans patients less than 50 years old and older.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem. However, this cancer is usually developed on preexisting lesion. This makes this cancer accessible to a prevention strategy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients under 50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 133 patients with colorectal cancer recruited in CHU Ibn-Rochd, Casablanca. Data relating age, sex, stage at presentation, histological type and tumor location were obtained from the pathological and clinical records of each patient. Statistical analysis was performed to compare clinicopathological data in patients under 50 years and in older patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The average age of patients was 54 years. The frequency of patients aged 50 or under was 40.6% The tumors in the youngest age group were more often mucinous and signet ring cells (18.5%) versus (5.1%) in the oldest age group. The right colon was more often affected in the youngest age group, 38.9% versus 17.7% in the oldest age group (P=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposition of colorectal cancer in subjects 50 or under was high in Morocco. Colorectal cancers in the youngest age group were more often mucinous or signet ring cells and was more often located in the right colon. We intend to complete this study by a genetic study to help improve prevention and care of young patient.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of medical genetic, faculty of medicine and pharmacy Casablanca, 19 rue Tarik-Ibnou-Ziad, Casablanca, Morocco. a.benmoussa@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benmoussa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zamiati
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Badre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakadi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bennani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tahiri Jouti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nadifi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D055815:Young Adult