ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE COLON IN A NIGERIAN CHILD: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Carcinoma of the colon is rarely seen in children, but it could occur. Clinical features of this illness in childhood are non-specific, mimicking other childhood gastrointestinal disorders. This carries the risk of the disease being ignored or misinterpreted and its diagnosis delayed till child presents at an advanced stage with poorer prognosis. It is therefore important to highlight its sporadic occurrence.

This article reports on a 12- year old Nigerian female, who presented to our facility with a month’s history of abdominal pain associated with abdominal distension, anorexia, postprandial emesis, constipation and weight loss. She had received various treatments over the counter, with only partial relief of symptoms. Adenocarcinoma of the colon was diagnosed following an emergency laparotomy and histologic examination of the colonic specimen excised. It is important that colorectal carcinoma should be considered in any child with alteration in bowel habits, abdominal pain or distension especially in resource-poor settings where diagnostic facilities may not be optimal, as early diagnosis can give better treatment outcome.