SC co-ordinated the analysis and helped in drafting the manuscript. RS helped in drafting the paper. DDP permitted the usage of clinical material and reviewed the draft. Key Messages Colorectal carcinoma in children is a rare disease occuring predominantly in the second decade of life. In Indian children it occurs mainly in the left colon.
Colorectal carcinoma carries a uniformly poor prognosis due to advanced stage at presentation.
Rectal bleeding in children should not be ignored and mandates evaluation by a digital rectal examination and sigmoidoscopy. A high level of suspiscion is essential to diagnose this disease at an early and curable stage. References Rao DN, Ganesh B. Estimate of cancer incidence in India in 1991. Cohen A, Minsky B, Schilsky R. Cancer of colon. Colon carcinoma in children and adolescents.