Carcinoma of the colon in children: a case report and review of 41 Japanese cases.

We report a case of sigmoid colon carcinoma in a 14-year-old girl. She had been suffering from several nonspecific abdominal symptoms for about 1 year before a definite diagnosis was made. While undergoing an operation, the main tumor was found to be unresectable. She died of Candida-induced septicemia on the 26th day after the operation. There have been 40 cases of colon carcinoma reported in the Japanese literature in patients 15 years of age or younger. We reviewed the 40 Japanese cases along with our case, and compared these to other children and adult studies. The prognosis is quite unfavorable in children because of the poor histological character and the delayed diagnosis. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen measurement might be one means for early diagnosis.