Adenocarcinoma of the colon in children with LAL: A case report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer in children and adolescents is an exceptional condition. Its clinical symptoms are non-specific, leading to delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: The present article reports the case of a 15-year-old child followed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a history of a grandfather operated on and followed for colorectal cancer. The child was admitted to our department with an occlusive syndrome. Endoscopy and radiological findings suggested the diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma (AC). The therapeutic decision was a segmental colectomy covering the right colonic angle and colostomy followed by chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Colorectal cancer remains an exceptional pathology in children. They often include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and rectal discharge. Endoscopy is the key diagnostic test, enabling both distal and proximal lesions to be detected. Primary CA of the colon is rare in children, and even rarer as a second malignancy. CONCLUSION: The clinical symptoms of colorectal adenocarcinoma in children are non-specific. These cancers are little-known in pediatrics, and are often diagnosed at an advanced stage.