Perforation of colonic neoplasms

Colonic perforation is the second most common complication of colonic neoplasms and is associated with an elevated morbidity and mortality. We undertook a two-centre retrospective analysis of 378 colonic neoplasms seen from 1978 to 1985. Thirty-six patients (9.5%) presented with a perforated colonic carcinoma. Two-thirds had a past history suggesting colonic disease while in the remaining one-third, the perforation was the first manifestation of the disease. Resection was carried out initially in 33 cases (21 Hartmann's procedure, 9 primary anastomosis, 2 mucous fistula and 1 abdominoperineal excision). Two patients had a proximal colostomy only and 1 an exploratory laparotomy only because of disseminated disease. Postoperative mortality was 14% (five cases). Actuarial survival rate was 52% at 1 year and 40% at 2 years. Eleven patients are still alive after a mean follow-up of 43 months.     

Stromal eosinophilia in colonic epithelial neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the frequency and intensity of eosinophilic infiltration (or tissue eosinophilia) in the stroma of colonic adenomas, hyperplastic polyps, and colorectal adenocarcinomas. Eosinophilic infiltration in various malignancies has been reported but has not been evaluated in benign colorectal adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. METHODS: We analyzed 488 colonic neoplasms: 176 tubular adenomas, 55 tubulovillous adenomas, 82 villous adenomas, 15 early carcinomas in polyps, 95 invasive adenocarcinomas, and 65 hyperplastic polyps for the presence of eosinophilic infiltration. The eosinophilic infiltration was graded as negative (< or =5%), mild to moderate (>5-40%), or marked (>40%), depending on the percentage of eosinophils relative to total inflammatory cells in the stroma. RESULTS: Mild to moderate eosinophilia was noted in 75% of all adenomas. The transitional zone in all cases of invasive adenocarcinoma (zone between normal tissue and adenocarcinoma) revealed a high percentage of tissue eosinophilia. There was a striking absence of TE in the stroma of invasive adenocarcinomas. Only 5% of hyperplastic polyps had any eosinophilic infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, in the spectrum of colonic neoplasms, stromal eosinophilia is most prominent in adenomas and seems to decrease with progression through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The ramifications of this study may alter management plans and provide some prognostic information for clinical evaluation.     

The association of fasting insulin concentrations and colonic neoplasms in acromegaly: a colonoscopy-based study in 210 patients

CONTEXT: Hyperinsulinemia is associated with colon carcinoma in the general population. Patients with acromegaly are considered to be at risk for developing colonic lesions and typically have hyperinsulinemia. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the role of fasting insulin levels on the prevalence of colonic adenomatous polyps or adenocarcinoma in acromegaly. DESIGN: This is an analytical, observational, prospective study. Patients: A total of 210 patients (111 women, 99 men, age 20-82 yr) undergoing complete colonoscopy at diagnosis of acromegaly were included in this study. RESULTS: Colonic lesions were found in 81 patients (38.6%), and consisted of hyperplastic polyps in 33 (15.7%), adenomatous polyps in 42 (20.0%), and adenocarcinoma in six patients (2.8%). Polyps were single in 22 cases (27.1%). Fasting insulin levels were significantly lower in patients without lesions (16.0 +/- 7.5 mU/liter) than in patients with hyperplastic polyps (22.4 +/- 8.8 mU/liter; P < 0.01), adenomatous polyps (38.0 +/- 15.9 mU/liter; P < 0.0001), and adenocarcinoma (59.0 +/- 30.6 mU/liter; P < 0.0001). Fasting insulin levels were also lower in patients with hyperplastic polyps than in those with adenomatous polyps (P < 0.01). The odds ratio for harboring colonic adenomas was 14.8 (95% confidence interval 4.4-51.2; P < 0.0001) and 8.6 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.8-29.0; P < 0.0001) in patients with fasting insulin levels in the upper tertile [>/=27.1 mIU/liter (n = 28)] compared with the lower [12.1 to <27.1 mIU/liter (n = 74)], respectively. CONCLUSION: An increase in fasting insulin levels is associated with an 8.6- to 14.8-fold increased risk of presenting with colonic adenomas in acromegaly.     

伺机性筛查新模式在结直肠肿瘤患者配偶的探索性研究

目的探究结直肠病房筛查新模式在结直肠肿瘤患者配偶筛查的有效性。 方法采用结直肠肿瘤风险问卷调查、粪便潜血免疫化学检测（FIT）以及粪便多靶点FIT-DNA检测对2019年10月至2021年7月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院结直肠外科就诊的结直肠癌及进展期腺瘤患者的配偶进行检测,根据检测结果将配偶的筛查风险以及肠镜检查推荐分为A、B、C、D四类,分析不同分类后配偶肠镜依从率与病变检出率。 结果共206名受试者被纳入本研究。总体配偶人群肠镜依从率为29.6%（61/206）,肠镜病变检出率为9.8%（6/61）;A类至D类推荐人群肠镜依从率分别为90.9%（10/11）、53.5%（23/43）、20.5%（23/112）和12.5%（5/40）,肠镜病变检出率分别为30.0%（3/10）、8.7%（2/23）、4.3%（1/23）和0（0/5）。 结论三种筛查方法联合使用可以高效精准地区分配偶的筛查风险,此方案是一个可以在病房开展的有效可行的结直肠肿瘤患者配偶人群的伺机性筛查新模式。     

Cell kinetics analysis of background colonic mucosa of patients with intestinal neoplasms by ex vivo autoradiography.

Studies of the cell kinetics of the colonic crypts could explain the morphogenesis of colonic adenomas and results suggest that a derangement of the proliferative zone of the colonic crypts takes place before adenoma development. This study was conducted to determine whether this is the case or not. The labelling distribution and labelling index (LI) of the colonic crypts was examined with ex vivo autoradiography. Eight patients with intestinal neoplasms, three with familial polyposis coli, four with ordinary colon cancer, and one with two colonic adenomas. Similar labelling distributions and absent upward shift of the active proliferative zone in crypts were observed in patients with familial polyposis and in those with non-polyposis cancer, or adenomas. The non-proliferative zone of the crypts was well preserved in all eight patients. The mean of the labelling index of the three patients with familial polyposis coli was 8.35% (3.17), values expressed as means (SD) and that of the five patients with non-polyposis cancer, or adenomas was 8.55% (3.20). None of the eight patients showed derangement of the proliferative zone of colonic crypts. This result is compatible with the hypothesis that adenomas are detected first as 'buds of adenomas', which sprout into the lamina propria mucosae in the middle part of normal crypts.     

Clinical significance of microsatellite instability in the inflamed mucosa for the prediction of colonic neoplasms in patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although molecular mechanisms underlying ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated neoplasms have been studied for years, understanding of these mechanisms remains incomplete and no good predictable marker for development of colonic neoplasms in patients with UC has been established. The aim of this study was to assess if microsatellite instability (MSI) contributes to the development of colonic neoplasms in patients with UC. METHODS: We have examined MSI in chronic inflamed and neoplastic colonic mucosa of UC patients. We have also obtained serial biopsied colonic tissues retrospectively 2-12 years before the final diagnosis from patients with high level MSI (MSI-H+) UC-associated neoplasms, and analyzed MSI using them at different periods. RESULTS: Eight of 12 UC-associated colon cancers (67%), four of six UC-associated high grade dysplasias (67%), and two of six UC-associated low grade dysplasias (33%) revealed MSI-H+ phenotypes. In contrast, 15 of 59 lesions (25%) in inflamed UC mucosa without colonic neoplasm revealed MSI-H +. Interestingly, all four patients with MSI-H+ phenotypes at the final diagnosis of UC-associated colon cancer or dysplasia had already had MSI-H+ at the stage of chronic colitis, 2-12 years before the final diagnosis. CONCLUSION: These results support the notion that MSI contributes to the carcinogenesis of UC-associated neoplasms, and indicate that this analysis in inflamed colonic mucosa at surveillance colonoscopy is useful for identifying UC patients who have high risk for neoplastic progression.     

Cisapride accelerates colonic transit in constipated patients with colonic inertia

A double-blind cross-over trial of oral cisapride 10 mg before meals and placebo was performed to determine its effects on colonic transit in patients with severe idiopathic constipation. Nine patients with less than 3 spontaneous bowel movements/wk were studied. After passing a tube to the cecum, 50 muCi of 111In-DTPA were instilled into the cecum and followed for 48 h using colonic transit scintigraphy. In the group as a whole, cisapride had little effect on transit. The patients were then divided into two groups based on transit: functional rectosigmoid obstruction (FRSO) and colonic inertia (CI). In the CI group, cisapride accelerated the half emptying time of the cecum and ascending colon from 2.50 to 1.21 h (p less than 0.05). The progression of the geometric center was also faster after cisapride in CI. In FRSO, the geometric center was unchanged by cisapride except at 48 h. Cisapride thus has a prokinetic effect on colonic transit in patients with severe idiopathic constipation, colonic inertia subtype. It may be a useful agent in the treatment of this group of patients.     

Staging of colonic neoplasms by colonoscopic miniprobe ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In contrast to the situation in the upper gastrointestinal tract staging of colonic neoplasm by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has not gained importance because until yet preoperative staging is without any clinical consequences. This may change with the introduction of minimally invasive surgical procedures and endoscopic resection techniques as an alternative to conventional (open) surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed EUS with a miniprobe in 54 consecutive patients with colonic tumors who had been referred to our hospital for endoscopic resection or for laparoscopic resection of their lesions. Therefore patients with locally advanced tumors or systemic tumor spread were not included. After detection of the lesion during colonoscopy miniprobe EUS was performed with water-filling of the colonic lumen. The depth of invasion (T classification) and the local lymph node status (positive or negative) was ascertained. Lymph node-negative lesions staged as T1 underwent endoscopic resection whenever this was technically possible. In lymph node-negative T2-3 tumors laparoscopic resection was planned if they were localized at least 10 cm apart from the flexuras. All other lesions were resected by open surgery. The EUS findings were later compared with the final pathological results (pTN classification) of the resected specimen. RESULTS: In 50 patients (93%) a sufficient EUS evaluation of the colonic tumor was possible. In one patient with a tumor at the left flexura the lesion could not be completely visualized, and in three patients a sufficient water filling of the colon was impossible. The infiltration depth was correctly classified in 17 adenomas, 16 T1, 8 T2, 5 T3, and one T4-carcinoma (EUS accuracy for T staging: 94%). Two T2 and one T3 carcinoma were overstaged by EUS while no understaging was recorded. The lymph node status was correctly classified in 42/50 patients (84%), and a false-negative lymph node status was found in only 4/50 cases (8%). The overall accuracy of EUS was 80%. CONCLUSION: Miniprobe EUS is suitable and has a sufficient but not optimal accuracy for staging of colonic neoplasm. Its employment makes sense if minimally invasive resection techniques in patients with high-risk for open surgery are planned.     

伺机性筛查新模式在结直肠肿瘤患者一级亲属中的探索性研究

目的探究结直肠病房筛查新模式在结直肠肿瘤患者一级亲属筛查的有效性。 方法采用结直肠肿瘤风险问卷评分、粪便潜血免疫化学检测（FIT）以及粪便多靶点FIT-DNA检测对2019年10月至2021年7月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院结直肠外科就诊的结直肠癌及进展期腺瘤患者的一级亲属进行检测,根据检测结果将一级亲属进行筛查风险分层以及肠镜检查推荐分类,分析不同分层分类后一级亲属的肠镜依从率与病变检出率。 结果共250名受试者被纳入本研究。总体人群肠镜依从率为38.0%（95/250）,肠镜病变检出率为9.5%（9/95）;高风险人群（A类推荐人群）肠镜依从率为78.9%（15/19）,肠镜病变检出率为26.7%（4/15）;中风险人群（B类推荐人群）肠镜依从率为61.2%（30/49）,肠镜病变检出率为16.7%（5/30）;低风险人群（C类推荐人群）肠镜依从率为27.5%（50/182）,肠镜病变检出率为0（0/50）。 结论三种筛查方法联合使用可以高效精准地区分一级亲属的筛查风险,此方案是一个可以在病房开展的有效可行的结直肠肿瘤患者一级亲属人群的伺机性筛查新模式。     

Helicobacter pylori-related chronic gastritis as a risk factor for colonic neoplasms

To summarize the current views and insights on associations between Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori)-related chronic gastritis and colorectal neoplasm, we reviewed recent studies to clarify whether H. pylori infection/H. pylori-related chronic gastritis is associated with an elevated risk of colorectal neoplasm. Recent studies based on large databases with careful control for confounding variables have clearly demonstrated an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm associated with H. pylori infection. The correlation between H. pylori-related chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG) and colorectal neoplasm has only been examined in a limited number of studies. A recent large study using a national histopathological database, and our study based on the stage of H. pylori-related chronic gastritis as determined by serum levels of H. pylori antibody titer and pepsinogen, indicatedthat H. pylori-related CAG confers an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm, and more extensive atrophic gastritis will probably be associated with even higher risk of neoplasm. In addition, our study suggested that the activity of H. pylori-related chronic gastritis is correlated with colorectal neoplasm risk. H. pylori-related chronic gastritis could be involved in an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm that appears to be enhanced by the progression of gastric atrophy and the presence of active inflammation.     

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA synthetic phase fraction of the normal appearing colonic mucosa in patients with colorectal neoplasms.

DNA synthetic (S) phase fractions of normal appearing colonic mucosa in Japanese and British patients with colorectal neoplasms were compared with those in patients without colonic neoplasms. Normal crypts were isolated from fresh surgical specimens of the large intestine by the use of EDTA. After fixation with 70% ethanol, isolated crypts were digested with pepsin into single nuclei suspensions. These were stained with propidium iodide and examined by flow cytometry. S phase fraction was calculated from the flow cytometry DNA histogram using Baisch's method. S phase fractions of normal appearing crypts in Japanese and British patients with colorectal tumours were not significantly different and analysed together. S phase fraction of normal appearing colonic crypts in 14 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) was 10.23 (2.59%) (mean SD)) ranging from 5.8 to 18.8. S phase fraction of background normal mucosal in patients with large adenomas (over 2 cm) and adenocarcinomas were 9.74 (3.76%) (range, 2.7-16.1) and 8.93 (3.54%) (range, 2.9-18.9) respectively. In normal mucosa of patients without any colorectal neoplasms, S phase fraction was 8.99 (3.94)% (range, 3.9-17.7). There was no statistically significant difference in S phase fractions of normal mucosa in the four groups. Our results show that an increase in proliferative activity of background colonic crypts is not necessary for tumour development.     

Virtual colonoscopy in the detection of colonic polyps and neoplasms

First introduced in 1994, CT colonography (Virtual colonoscopy) has emerged as an accurate, non-invasive test that will likely play a future role in colorectal cancer screening. Over the past 3 years, there have been dramatic improvements in both hardware and software technology relating to CT colonography resulting in shorter scan times, enhanced user-friendliness and improved performance statistics. Published results show the accuracy of CT colonography to be comparable to conventional colonoscopy for detection of polyps >6mm in size with few false-positives. While many of the technical aspects of CT colonography have now been standardised current interest focuses on the development of faecal tagging agents to avoid full bowel catharsis and the use of low dose multislice CT acquisition to reduce patient radiation exposure. This chapter will summarise the development of CT colonography to date, document its published performance in detection of colorectal polyps and cancers, and review its current and potential future uses.     

Glutathione concentrations and glutathione S-transferase activity in human colonic neoplasms

Abstract Tissue concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GST) are relevant to the inactivation of a variety of xenobiotics including carcinogens and anti-neoplastic drugs. In this study, GSH concentrations and GST activity were determined in 25 adenomatous polyps removed at colonoscopy, and in cancer and uninvolved 'normal' mucosa from 58 operative specimens containing colon cancer. We also examined the relationship between GSH concentrations, GST activity and rates of cell proliferation as assessed by flow cytometry. Concentrations of GSH were significantly higher in adenomas ( P = 0.001) and cancer ( P = 0.001) than in uninvolved mucosa while GST activity was significantly higher in cancer ( P = 0.007). There was a positive relationship between GSH concentrations and GST activity in adenomas ( P = 0.001) but not in uninvolved mucosa ( P = 0.06) or cancer ( P = 0.4). Concentrations of GSH and GST activity were independent of results from flow cytometry. The higher concentrations of GSH in colonic neoplasms and the raised activity of GST in cancer may contribute to their resistance to anti-neoplastic drugs.