Early onset colorectal cancer – personal experience 2012–2021

Background: Early onset colorectal cancer is defined as cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 years. Its incidence has been increasing worldwide in recent years. The aim of our study was to assess the real-life incidence of early onset colorectal cancer, advanced neoplasias (colorectal cancer and/or advanced adenoma) and all neoplastic lesions in total in a single non-university endoscopic center. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of all neoplastic lesions, advanced neoplasias and colorectal cancer in population under 50 years of age compared to population aged 50 years and older. We collected the data from all colonoscopic examinations performed in non-university Hospital Frydek-Mistek from January 2012 to the end of June 2021. Results: During the observed period, 18,257 colonoscopic examinations were performed in total, 14,728 in population aged 50 years and older and 3,529 in population under 50 years of age. In our study, there were 29 patients with early onset colorectal cancer (5.21% of 557 total) and 106 patients with early onset advanced neoplasias (4.47% of 2,371 total). The incidence of colorectal cancer, advanced neoplasias and all neoplasias was higher among men in older study group, but the incidence of early onset colorectal cancer and advanced neoplasias in younger group did not significantly differ between the sexes, only the incidence of all neoplastic lesions was also higher among men. Positive family history of colorectal cancer was not significantly associated with risk of early onset colorectal cancer (p = 0.316) or early onset advanced neoplasia (p = 0.323) in our study. Conclusions: Early onset colorectal cancer represented 5.21% of all colorectal cancers diagnosed during the study period. The incidence of colorectal cancer and advanced neoplasias in population under 50 years of age was 0.82% and 3.00%, compared with 3.59% and 15.38% in older population. In contrast to older population, the incidence of early onset colorectal cancer and advanced neoplasias did not differ between the sexes. Keywords diagnosis, colorectal cancer, screening, population groups