An Epidemiological Study on Early versus Late Onset Colorectal Cancers at Tertiary Care Centre in North East India

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal carcinoma has shown a significant rise among young adult population around the world in the last few decades. We conducted a retrospective observational study to understand the associated risk factors and clinic-pathological characteristics by comparing early onset versus late onset colorectal carcinoma from North Eastern India.

Materials and Methods: 352 confirmed cases of colorectal carcinoma presenting at our centre in last eight years were studied. They were divided into early onset (<45 years) and late onset (>45 years) groups. Risk factors and clinic-pathological characteristics of the two groups were compared.

Results: Early Onset Colorectal Carcinoma constituted 33.2% of the total cases, with slight female preponderance. Early onset group showed higher association with the increased BMI than the late onset group (P value=0.008). There was higher association of the positive family history among the early onset group. Majority of the patients presented with bleeding per rectum or blood/mucus in stool, with more prevalence in late onset age group. Early onset group were found to have higher proportion of mucinous and medullary carcinomas with significantly higher histologic grade and stage at presentation as compared to the older age group.

Conclusion: Our study reveals a significant incidence of colorectal carcinomas among younger age group with observable differences in the existing risk factors and clinic-pathological features as compared to late onset group. Studies are required to relate risk factors among young generations to screen the disease at the earlier stages and proceed with more meticulous treatment strategies.