Colorectal cancer in young patients: a review of the literature.

Colorectal cancer in patients under 45 years of age accounts for approximately 4% of all cases of colorectal cancer. The stage of disease at presentation is comparable with that of older patients. Histological evaluations of the cancers in the younger age group of patients reveal that approximately four times as many tumours are of the mucinous type and this is associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. Dukes staging and vascular invasion by tumour are prognostic indicators for overall patient survival. However, survival rates for young patients with colorectal cancer are comparable to those of older patients, when considering equivalent Dukes stages.