Early-onset colorectal cancer in Argentina: a multicenter surgical analysis of incidence, stage, and metastatic patterns

Background Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing worldwide and now accounts for a growing share of cancer deaths in younger adults. Data from middle- and low-income regions are scarce. We aimed to characterize the incidence, tumor stage distribution, lymph node positivity and metastasis patterns of EOCRC in Argentina. Methods In this retrospective, multicenter cohort study, we analyzed adult patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between April 2022 and December 2023. The registry included 1829 patients, of whom 961 were male (52.5%) and 868 were female (47.5%). Mean age was 41.6 years (range 18–49) in the EOCRC group and 68.8 years (range 50–98) in the late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) group. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient and tumor characteristics. Comparisons between EOCRC (