Early-onset Colorectal Cancer: A Study in a Colombian Population

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.