Surgical outcomes and survival rates of colon cancer in children and young adults.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer in children and young adults is rare. We sought to compare outcomes and survival between patients ≤and>25 years of age with colon cancer. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, patients with colon cancer between 2004 and 2016 were identified. We included patients with histological codes consistent with invasive colon adenocarcinoma and excluded those missing data about treatment. Post-surgical outcomes and survival were compared. RESULTS: Of 531,462 patients meeting criteria, 947 were ≤25 years. Patients ≤25 had more advanced disease (stage III44.4%vs33.4%, stage IV27.5%vs.15.3%) and higher rates of total colectomy (8.9%vs.2.7%) and proctocolectomy (5.0%vs.0.0%) than those >25 years. Stage for stage, 5-year survival was higher in patients ≤25 than those >25years. On multivariate regression, age was not associated with increased risk of mortality while male sex and uninsured status were. CONCLUSIONS: Despite presenting with more advanced disease, patients ≤25 years with colon cancer had better survival than those >25 years.