Malignant tumours of the colon and rectum in patients aged 30 and younger.

Hospital records of the 27 patients, aged 30 years or younger, with carcinoma of the colon or rectum diagnosed 1969--1970, were reviewed. Predisposing diseases were found in 12 cases, 10 of these did not survive 5 years. Of 15 patients without predisposing disease 9 survived 5 years. The material is small but the prognosis does not seem to be worse in young patients with colonic cancer compared to elderly, provided the tumour has not developed from a predisposing disease. In such cases an early prophylactic operation must always be considered.