CONTEXT: Carcinoma of the colon and rectum is a relatively uncommon malignancy in India when compared with the western world. Colorectal cancer is generally a disease affecting individuals 50 years of age and older and is much less common in persons under 40 years of age. It is also a very uncommon pediatric malignancy. AIMS: To study the age, gender, site of primary tumor, histopathological type, and pathologic stage of colorectal cancer cases with specific reference to young adults. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tertiary care hospital, Retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all colorectal carcinomas (CRC) which were diagnosed during the past 8 years i.e., from January 2003 to December 2010. Patients were divided in to two groups -40 years and younger, and older than 40 years. The records were analyzed in detail for age, gender, site of primary tumor, histopathological type, and pathologic stage. The results of the two groups were compared and also with information from other centers. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Nil. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty three patients were diagnosed to have CRC. Patients diagnosed below 40 years of age comprised 39.05% and those under age 20 comprised 4.29%. Among those under 40 years of age, majority were males (63.73%), most occurred in the rectum (84.61%). Most of them were poorly differentiated mucin-secreting adenocarcinomas (80.21%) and presented at advanced pathologic T stage (71.42%). This was similar to those reported in other literatures. However, the incidence of colorectal cancer in patients younger than 40 years is much more in our study when compared with reports from other places. CONCLUSIONS: CRC in our institution is more often seen in younger individuals than what is reported in population-based cancer registries from other parts of the country. The reasons for this are not clear. Therefore, further studies are required to address the role of diet and personal habits with CRC in this region. Also, a high index of suspicion among young adults is necessary.
