Abstract:
Colorectal carcinoma in children and adolescents is extremely rare, with an annual incidence <0.3 cases
per million, most frequently reported in the second decade of life. It accounts for severe morbidity and
poor prognosis owing to the low index of suspicion, delayed diagnosis, advanced stage at presentation
and the aggressive tumor nature. Patients present with abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, abdominal
distension, rectal tenesmus, iron-deficiency anemia, change in bowel habit and weight loss. Rectal
bleeding is an uncommon presentation in children. Bowel obstruction presents frequently in children
compared to adults. In 90% of pediatric cases, colorectal carcinoma occurs sporadically. In 10%, predisposing
conditions and syndromes are identified. We present a case study of a 12-year-old female with
advanced colorectal cancer without a predisposing disease or syndrome, who received radiochemotherapy
ten weeks prior to radical abdominopelvic surgery, followed by radio-chemotherapy postoperatively,
with a positive outcome.
