BACKGROUND Inferior outcomes in younger patients with colorectal cancer may be associated with multiple factors, including tumor biology, delayed diagnosis, disparities such as access to care, and/or treatment differences. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine age-based colorectal cancer outcomes in an equal-access health care system. DESIGN This study is a retrospective large multi-institutional database analysis. PATIENTS Patients with colorectal cancer included in the Department of Defense Automated Central Tumor Registry (January 1993 to December 2008) were stratified by age