Carcinoma of the colon and rectum in patients under 30 years of age.

A 15-year study of large-bowel carcinoma at Groote Schuur Hospital revealed 47 patients who presented at the age of 29 years or younger. Only 1% of the White patients with large-bowel carcinoma were in this age group (similar to other Western series), whereas a much higher incidence was seen in Coloured patients (9%). We found a large number of young Coloured patients with high-grade tumours and lymph node invasion. In spite of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy the prognosis for this group in particular remains extremely poor.