Clinicopathological Differences of Colorectal Cancer in Three Age Groups of a Japanese Population

Abstract

Background & Aim: The Incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing in Japan. Colorectal cancer in young patients is unusual and little is known about the clinical differences between young and elder patients. A better understanding of the characteristics of colorectal cancer with respect to age would be useful. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological differences between aged groups. Material & Methods: A total of 4843 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were reviewed over about 40 year period in our hospital. (FAP, anal, appendix, endocrine cancers were excluded.) We classified the subjects into three groups: young patients (≤40 years), middle-aged patients (41-74 years), older patients (≥75 years) Results: The number of young patients was 277 (6%), middle-aged patients 4061 (84%), older patients 505 (10%). There was no apparent difference in male: female ratio (1.3 vs 1.5 vs 1.4). The location of the tumor, histopathological finding, Dukes classification, family history of colorectal cancer, recurrence rate, mortality rate due to colorectal cancer are shown in table 1 Conclusion: Young patients had more poorly differentiated tumors and were more advanced disease. However the recurrence rate and mortality of young patients are same as middle aged patients. Family history of colorectal cancer would be risk factor. The frequency of rectosigmoid disease decreased with age, therefore we recommended colonoscopy for screening even in the older patients.