Abstract
The incidence of colon cancer is low in India. More than 70% of colonic cancers occur in people aged 50 or older. However, colonic cancer appears to be increasing among younger patients. This study was done to compare and analyze the differences in clinical & pathological factors of colonic malignancies occurring in young patients (<50 years) and old patients (>50 years). The study showed male predominance within both groups (72% & 80%). Abdomen pain & altered bowel habits and abdomen pain with generalized weakness & anaemia were common presenting symptoms. Family history was an important predisposing factor in younger group (24%). Presentation as acute emergency was more common in younger group when compared to older group (36% & 20%). The younger group had more of left sided malignancy with poorly differentiated variety of carcinoma whereas it was evenly distributed in the older group. The time period between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 2.4 months in younger group whereas 5.92 months in older group. Younger group tend to have more aggressive malignancy with poorer pathologic findings, and if detected early can have better overall survival rates.
Keywords: CarcinomaColon Malignancy Older Patients Younger.
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Corresponding Author
Joshinth Joseph
Department of General Surgery,
Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai India
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