Introduction:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in terms of incidence and the second cause of death secondary to cancer. Early-onset CRC accounts for about 10% of cases and carries a higher mortality than that seen in older patients. We analyze the association between age and the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological characteristics of CRC at the time of diagnosis in a Latin American population.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the database of the Gastroenterology Service of Clínica Foscal and Clínica Foscal Internacional in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Results:

Between July 2016 and June 2021, 521 cases of de novo adenocarcinoma-type CRC were diagnosed, of which 77 patients (14.7%) were under 50. In patients with early-onset CRC, the prevalence of CRC was higher in women. Family history of CRC was more common in patients younger than 50 years. Hereditary syndromes, particularly familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis CRC, were also more frequent in the youth. Histopathologically, mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet ring cell adenocarcinoma were more common in young patients.

Conclusions:

The study showed an approach to the characteristics of early-onset CRC in a Latin American population. Increasing the prevention, control, and early detection of CRC in young people is necessary to improve diagnosis and treatment.

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