Malignant diseases of the colon are rare during childhood. The etiology of the disease has not been clearly defined, but diet, exposure to farm chemical, carcinogens, bile acid, clostria, IgA deficiency and genetic factors are associated with large bowel cancer.
About 10% of children with colon cancer have one of these predisposing diseases: familial polyposis coli and chronic ulcerative colitis.
50% of the adenocarcinomas in children are of the mucin producing(signet ring, colloid) variety. The prognosis of childhood cancer of the colon is very poor, probably owing to late diagnosis and early metastasis.
Authors collected 3 cases of colon cancer in childhood and report with review of literature.
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