Colorectal cancer: comparative analysis of clinical and pathological characteristics in patients aged above and below 45 years of age and impact on prognosis

Abstract

Introduction Colorectal cancer, in Portugal, presents as the second most common cancer and of cancer death cause. CRC is a disease of the elderly; however, there has been an increase of incidence in younger patients and doubts have emerged about its behavior, characteristics and prognosis in this group.

Methods In this study, we have evaluated a sample of 512 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer submitted to surgical treatment in the period between January 1st, 2005 and January 1st, 2010, through a comparative clinical, pathological and survival analysis of patients under and over 45 years old (Groups I and II respectively).

Results Group I patients accounted for 5.5% of the sample. There was a predominance of males and the most common site was the left colon in both age groups. In the younger group, the histological type presents with a predominance of tumors with a mucinous component and with signet ring cells (p = 0.001), however, there was no difference in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival.

Conclusion In this study, colorectal cancer at younger ages shows similar characteristics to those of older patients.