[Cancer of the rectum in young adults. Apropos of 38 cases].

This retrospective study is based upon 38 cases of rectal carcinomas occurring in young individuals aged under 25, collected during the 15 year period from January 1978 to December 1993. The mean age of the patients was 23 (range: 14 to 25), with a gender ratio of 2.1. Histology revealed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma in 12 cases, a moderately or slightly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinoma in 14 cases, a colloid carcinoma in 10 cases and a villous tumor with malignant change in 2 cases. Curative surgical excision was possible in only 11 patients. Sixteen patients underwent a palliative procedure, while 12 refused surgery. No treatment was proposed to 3 patients with visceral metastases. Only 11 patients could be followed up, with a mean 5-year survival rate of 10%. The prognosis of rectal carcinoma in young individuals is poor because of late diagnosis at an advanced stage and the aggressive histologic forms encountered.