Primary-to-secondary care referral experience of suspected colorectal malignancy in young adults

Introduction Colorectal cancer in patients younger than 50 years of age is increasing steadily in the UK with limited guidelines available indicating need for secondary care referral. The aims of this study were to report the cancer incidence in those aged under 50 years referred to secondary care with suspected colorectal malignancy and also to analyse the quality of those referrals. Methods A total of 197 primary care referrals made between 2008 and 2014 to a UK district general hospital for suspected colorectal malignancy were analysed. All confirmed cancers were further evaluated regarding presenting symptoms, tumour characteristics and clinical outcomes. Each referral was given a referral performance score (out of 9) dependant on relevant information documented. Results The overall malignancy rate was 9.1% (11 male and 7 female patients). The median age in this cohort was 41.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 37–49 years). Abdominal pain was the only presenting symptom to differ significantly when c...