TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics and symptomatology of colorectal cancer in the young
AU - Skalitzky, Mary Kate
AU - Zhou, Peige P.
AU - Goffredo, Paolo
AU - Guyton, Kristina
AU - Sherman, Scott K.
AU - Gribovskaja-Rupp, Irena
AU - Hassan, Imran
AU - Kapadia, Muneera R.
AU - Hrabe, Jennifer E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients <50 years has rapidly risen recently. Understanding the presenting symptoms may facilitate earlier diagnosis. We aimed to delineate patient characteristics, symptomatology, and tumor characteristics of colorectal cancer in a young population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted evaluating patients <50 years diagnosed between 2005 and 2019 with primary colorectal cancer at a university teaching hospital. The number and character of colorectal cancer–related symptoms at presentation was the primary outcome measured. Patient and tumor characteristics were also collected. Results: Included were 286 patients with a median age of 44 years, with 56% <45 years. Nearly all patients (95%) were symptomatic at presentation, with 85% having 2 or more symptoms. The most common symptoms were pain (63%), followed by change in stool habits (54%), rectal bleeding (53%), and weight loss (32%). Diarrhea was more common than constipation. More than 50% had symptoms for at least 3 months before diagnosis. The number and duration of symptoms were similar in patients older than 45 compared to those younger. Most cancers were left-sided (77%) and advanced stage at presentation (36% stage III, 39% stage IV). Conclusion: In this cohort of young patients with colorectal cancer, the majority presented with multiple symptoms having a median duration of 3 months. It is essential that providers be mindful of the ever-increasing incidence of colorectal malignancy in young patients, and that those with multiple, durable symptoms should be offered screening for colorectal neoplasms based on symptoms alone.
AB - Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients <50 years has rapidly risen recently. Understanding the presenting symptoms may facilitate earlier diagnosis. We aimed to delineate patient characteristics, symptomatology, and tumor characteristics of colorectal cancer in a young population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted evaluating patients <50 years diagnosed between 2005 and 2019 with primary colorectal cancer at a university teaching hospital. The number and character of colorectal cancer–related symptoms at presentation was the primary outcome measured. Patient and tumor characteristics were also collected. Results: Included were 286 patients with a median age of 44 years, with 56% <45 years. Nearly all patients (95%) were symptomatic at presentation, with 85% having 2 or more symptoms. The most common symptoms were pain (63%), followed by change in stool habits (54%), rectal bleeding (53%), and weight loss (32%). Diarrhea was more common than constipation. More than 50% had symptoms for at least 3 months before diagnosis. The number and duration of symptoms were similar in patients older than 45 compared to those younger. Most cancers were left-sided (77%) and advanced stage at presentation (36% stage III, 39% stage IV). Conclusion: In this cohort of young patients with colorectal cancer, the majority presented with multiple symptoms having a median duration of 3 months. It is essential that providers be mindful of the ever-increasing incidence of colorectal malignancy in young patients, and that those with multiple, durable symptoms should be offered screening for colorectal neoplasms based on symptoms alone.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.surg.2023.01.018
DO - 10.1016/j.surg.2023.01.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 36872174
AN - SCOPUS:85149625315
SN - 0039-6060
VL - 173
SP - 1137
EP - 1143
JO - Surgery (United States)
JF - Surgery (United States)
IS - 5
ER -