Lack of colonic neoplastic lesions in patients under 50 yr of age with hematochezia: a multicenter prospective study.

Objectives: It is still not clear what is the best way of evaluating rectal bleeding in young people. Our aim was to examine the prevalence of neoplastic colonic lesions in these patients.

Methods: This prospective, multicenter study enrolled 622 patients aged 30-50 yr (F 232/M 390) consecutively seen in 14 open-access endoscopy departments for hematochezia, defined as bright red blood from the rectum, red blood noted either in the feces, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl.