MALIGNANT POTENTIAL OF CHRONIC ULCERATIVE-COLITIS - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 76  (1) , 1-5
Abstract
Prior studies confirm the increased incidence of carcinoma of the colon in chronic ulcerative colitis. Clinical and histologic data are reviewed retrospectively in 23 patients with colon carcinoma and chronic ulcerative colitis. Twenty-two of these patients had dysplasia of colonic epithelium remote from the cancer. Clinical data and rectal and colonoscopic biopsy specimens were reviewed on 36 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis, 12 with Crohn''s colitis and 12 with miscellaneous disorders. Eight patients with chronic ulcerative colitis had dysplasia; 6 have had colectomy, and 2 of these had carcinoma. No patient without chronic ulcerative colitis had dysplasia. Patients with chronic ulcerative colitis should have periodic rectal and colonoscopic biopsies, and those with moderate to marked dysplasia require colectomy because of the increased risk of colon carcinoma.