Young-onset rectal cancer: A descriptive tertiary center analysis

This retrospective study, conducted at the University Hospitals of Leuven, investigated the clinical presentation and outcomes of young patients (aged <50 years) diagnosed with rectal cancer, in response to the observed rise in early-onset colorectal cancer. Unlike many existing studies that group colon and rectal cancer together, this analysis focused solely on rectal cancer. Among 86 young patients identified in the institutional database, the majority presented with more advanced disease at diagnosis, including higher rates of nodal involvement (N-positive), extramural venous invasion (EMVI), and metastatic disease. These patients also exhibited a higher frequency of symptoms at presentation, potentially due to the absence of screening protocols in this age group or inherently more aggressive disease biology.

Despite these differences in disease stage, no significant variation was observed in survival among non-metastatic patients compared to older cohorts, although the presence of confounding variables limits definitive conclusions.