[Increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in young patients].

For the past decades, an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in young patients has been reported in several countries, including Denmark, and efforts need to be taken in order to halt this tendency. This review characterises the clinical and pathological attributes of young patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). Risk factors such as smoking and sedentary lifestyle have been found to be associated with EOCRC. Further studies are needed to evaluate, if the age of patients entering the Danish screening programme for bowel cancer should be lowered.