Malignant degeneration in ulcerative colitis

Summary and Conclusions A case of carcinoma of the colon complicating chronic ulcerative colitis of long duration in a 31-year-old patient has been presented. It has been stated once more that there is a much higher incidence of cancer in patients with this disease than in the normal population. The incidence becomes extremely great as the duration of the disease increases. The virulence of malignant disease in chronic ulcerative colitis has been stressed and the poor prognosis emphasized. It is the authors’ considered opinion that the patient with ulcerative colitis should have periodic proctoscopic and roentgenologic examinations and that surgery should be performed whenever localized changes are revealed on roentgenologic examination after the patient has harbored the disease for 5 years or more.