retrospective clinico pathological review of colorectal cancer in young patients compared to old patients

ABSTRACT

Retrospective Clinico pathological review was carried out on [63] cases of colorectal cancer extracted from histopathology files of AL-Yarmouk Teaching hospital in Baghdad, between April 2001 - April 2002. [16] patients were under the age of 40 [9 males and 7 females] with age ranging from [21 - 40] years. [47] patients were above the age 0 [27 males and 20 females] with age ranging [40-80] years. This study showed that the colorectal cancer was diagnosed in 25.3% of patients who were under 40 years of age and the peak of incidence was between [31-40] years. While the peak of incidence above 40 years was [51-60] years alteration of bowel habits, bleeding per rectum and anemia were common features in both groups. The rectum was the most commons site for tumors in young patients while sigmoid colon and rectum were the site in old patients. The histopathology finding showed that the most tumors in young patients were stage B2 and C with moderate and poorly differentiated a denocarcinoma indicating that the more malignant course of the disease was in young patients. So it must be given a special importance to the precisely diagnosis for this group and most of clinical assessment of bowel changes aren't carried seriously