Rationale/Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) in younger patients is usually considered as having a poorer prognosis compared to the population. Other authors report conflicting results, stating similar or no difference in prognosis. Clearly, age as a prognostic factor in CRC is not yet settled.

Objectives: To determine the relative frequency of CRC in patients 39 years old and below in five major hospitals in Cebu City, and to compare their respective Clinicopathologic features with patients aged 40 years and above.

Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study.

Method: A chart review of colorectal cancer patients from five tertiary hospitals in Cebu City from January 1999 to December 2003 was the basis of the study. The patients were divided into two age groups (39 years old and below, 40 years old and above). The two groups were compared as to age, gender, family history, duration of disease, site distribution of lesions, tumor grade and histologic subtype.

Results: A total of 408 patients were included in the study. Sixty-one patients were below 40 years old for a frequency of 15 percent. A statistically significant number of CRC patients younger than 40 years old had right-sided lesions and poorly differentiated histopathology.

Conclusion: In this study population, a significant number of colorectal cancers in patients younger than 40 years old have Clinicopathologic features that are different from those in older patients, i.e., they tend to be located at the right side of the colon and have a poorly differentiated histopathology. (Author)