title: Young onset colorectal cancer: How does it differ from its older counterpart?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer in the young has been a debated topic in literature with conflicting reports as to its pattern of occurrence and survival as compared to the older age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities and survival of sporadic young-onset colorectal cancer (YOCR) patients (<40 years) and compare them with the older group (>40 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 172 patients managed, 72 (42%) were in the YOCR group. Among 72 patients, six were excluded because of hereditary syndromes. Incontinence (P = 0.02) and obstruction at time of presentation (P = 0.03) was significantly more common in the YOCR group. Left sided disease was more common in YOCR group (47/66) compared to the older group (65/100), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.45). The proportion of rectal cancers was significantly more in the YOCR group (39/47) compared to the older group (39/65) (P = 0.01). Significant difference in resectability was noted in the left sided (YOCR 26/47 vs. older 49/65 P = 0.04) and the rectal cancers (YOCR 18/39 vs. Older 29/39 P = 0.02). The survival was similar among the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sporadic colorectal cancers in the young are more advanced and less resectable when compared to older population. Genetic studies are needed to elaborate the reasons for left sided predominance and aggressiveness of sporadic colorectal cancers in the younger subgroups.
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Saluja
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Manipadam
authors: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Mishra
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sachdeva
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Solanki
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Shah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen