DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.084

Pages: 3284-3289

Colorectal cancer in young adults is commoner in Black Africans and is one of the leading causes of cancer - related death in this race. The aim of the study was to identify the presentation pattern and management of colorectal cancer in young adults in the sub-Saharan Africa. It is a prospective study of 262 patients with 80 out of 102 patients less than or equal to 40 years of age that were managed with colorectal cancer between 2005 and 2011 in the sub-region. Their records were retrieved and analyzed for demographic data, clinico-pathological pattern and interventions. The records of 22 patients were incomplete and hence they were excluded from the study. There were no gender difference and the peak age was in the 3th decade of life. Majority were rural farmers. The average duration of symptoms was 16 months. The major clinical features were documented. Majority of the patients (88.7%) presented with features of acute abdomen and at laparatomy found to have advanced colorectal tumour. Histology showed 37.5% were poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma out of which 20% were mucinous and 40% signet ring subtypes. Thirty three per cent declined any treatment. High index of suspicion, aggressive management would reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality of this disease.