Sporadic adenocarcinoma of the colon in children: Case series and review of the literature

BACKGROUND:: Adenocarcinoma of the colon is rare in pediatric patients and thus not much is known about its clinical and imaging characteristics. OBSERVATIONS:: We present 4 adolescents with an average age of 15 years who present with several month histories of significant weight loss and abdominal pain. All had an abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scan, which revealed an adenocarcinoma in the colon. One patient had metastatic disease at diagnosis. The main treatment was primary resection and chemotherapy. Two of the children had a family history of colon cancer. Our case series depicts similarities and differences in disease presentation, tumor location, pattern of metastasis, genetics, management between adults and children and conducts a review of the relevant literature concerning adenocarcinoma in the pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS:: In children, this disease has more aggressive histologies and presents more frequently in an advanced stage. This is because it is not a diagnosis often considered, leading to poorer outcomes. When patients present in the correct clinical context, the possibility of colonic adenocarcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis, which may in turn lead to better outcomes.