Non-lymphoreticular cancer of the gastrointestinal tract in the young adult: general hospital experience.

A review of 39 cases of non-lymphoreticular cancer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in young adults (ages 18-40 years) compiled from the tumor registries of three general teaching hospitals during the years 1966-1976 is presented. Several aspects of their clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment are assessed. Several features are worthy of comment regarding this subgroup of cancer patients: unexplained anemia, evidence of GI tract blood loss, and weight loss are frequent findings, singly or in combination; delay in diagnosis of gastric malignancy may be occasioned due to response of abdominal complaints to nonspecific therapy such as antacids; and an unexpectedly high number of women were among the cancer group, especially among those with stomach and colorectal cancer.