Chapter 36 - Colorectal++ Flashcards
Muscular anatomy of colon?
Muscularis mucosa, muscularis propria, plica semilunaris (haustra), taenia coli
Vascular supply of transverse colon?
2/3: SMA - right and middle colic
1/3: IMA - L. colic
Vascular supply of ascending colon?
SMA - ileocolic, right colic arteries
Vascular supply of descending colon?
IMA - L. colic
Vascular supply of the rectum?
IMA superior
internal iliac inferior
Vascular supply of sigmoid colon?
IMA - sigmoid a.
% of blood flow to mucosa/submucosa?
80%
What are the watershed areas?
Splenic flexure (Griffith’s point)
Rectum (Sudak’s point)
Neuro control of external sphincter?
CNS (voluntary); inferior rectal branch of internal pudendal n, perineal branch (S4)
What muscle makes up the internal sphincter?
Continuation of circular bands of the rectal muscularis propria (can be resected in low rectal cancer to add 1 cm to resection margin and prevent need for APR - requires external sphincter function).
Measurement from anal verge to anal canal?
0-5cm
Measurement from anal verge to rectum?
5-15cm
Measurement from anal verge to rectosigmoid junction?
15-18cm
Transition point between anal canal and rectum?
Levator ani
Main nutrients of colonocytes?
Short chain fatty acids (butyrate) - produced by microbial breakdown of dietary starches
Prophylaxis for stump pouchitis?
Probiotics - VSL 3
Treatment for infectious pouchitis?
ciprofloxacin or flagyl
What is lymphocytic colitis? How do you dx and manage it?
- Pth: multifactorial, immune response
- Psx: pain w/ chronic, water diarrhea in a 65 F
- Dx: stool cxs, colonoscopy w/ biopsy
- Tx: avoid NSAID, antidiarrheals, budesonide
What is the name of the anterior, rectovesicular/rectovaginal fascia?
Denonvillier’s
What is the name of the posterior, rectosacral fascia?
Waldeyer’s
What are the characteristics of polyps associated with increased cancer risk?
>2cm, sessile, villous
What are the screening guidelines for patients with FAP?
- starting at 10-12y (puberty): annual sigmoidoscopy
- can change to q3y at 40
- as soon as polyps develop, do colectomy
What are the screening guidelines for patients with attenuated adenomatous polyposis coli?
- Starting in late teens, annual colonoscopy
- Type of FAP difficult to distinguish from Lynch
What are the screening guidelines for patients with HNPCC?
- starting at 20-25y, biennial colonoscopy
- also do UA, urine cytology, US, endometrial bx
What is the treatment when polypectomy shows T1 lesion?
Polypectomy only if 2mm margins, well-differentiated, no vascular involvement; otherwise segmental resection
What is the treatment for extensive low rectal villous adenomas with atypia?
Transanal excision (with or without mucosectomy); APR only if cancer is present
What is the treatment for T2 lesion after transanal excision of polyp?
APR or LAR
What will cause a false-positive guaiac?
Beef, Vit C, iron, antacids, cimetidine
Colonoscopy contraindications?
Recent MI, splenomegaly, pregnancy if fluoroscopy planned
What is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death?
Colorectal cancer
Main gene mutations in colon ca?
APC, DCC, p53, k-ras
Most common site of primary colorectal cancer?
Sigmoid
Poor prognostic factors for primary colorectal cancer?
- <40 yrs
- symptomatic patients
- obstruction
- perforation
- rectosigmoid/rectal location
- ulcerative tumor
- blood vessel/lymphatic/perineural invasion
- aneuploidy
- elevated CEA prior to resection
5-year survival rate with liver mets?
25% if resectable and leaves adequate liver function.
Do wedge resection if possible. No need for lobectomy - no survival benefit.
5 year survival with lung mets?
20%
Route of metastasis of colon cancer?
To liver via portal vein, to lung via iliac vein
Route of spine metastasis of rectal cancer?
Can go directly to spine via Batson’s plexus
Goals of resection for colon ca?
En bloc resection, adequate (5 cm, proximal and distal) margins, regional adenectomy (12 nodes)
Treatment for rectal cancer with rectal pain?
APR. Other indications for APR: Poor preop function, external sphincter involvement.
What is the best method of picking up hepatic mets?
Intraoperative ultrasound
Margin needed for LAR?
2cm from levator ani
Side effects of APR?
Impotence and bladder dysfunction (associated with Denonvillier’s dissection - anterior)
Local recurrence higher with rectal or colon ca?
Rectal ca
Advantages of preoperative chemo/XRT in rectal cancer?
Produces complete response in some patients with rectal ca; preserves sphincter function in some
Treatment for low rectal T1 lesion?
Transanal excision if <4cm, negative margins (1cm), well differentiated, no neurologic or vascular invasion; otherwise LAR or APR
Treatment for low rectal T2 or higher?
APR or LAR
Chemo for stage III and IV colon CA (node positive or distant mets)?
Post op chemo (III - 5FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin; IV - 5FU and leucovorin)
Chemotherapy for stage II and III rectal ca?
Pre op or post op chemo and XRT (5FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin)
Chemotherapy for stage IV rectal ca?
Chemo and XRT +/- surgery (5FU, leucovorin). Chemo is the priority before resection.
When is postop XRT needed for rectal ca?
T3 tumors (through muscularis propria; locally advanced) or positive nodes (stage III)
Most common site of XRT damage?
Rectum; vasculitis, thrombosis, ulcers, strictures
Gene mutation related to FAP?
APC gene, chromosome 5q21
% of FAP syndromes are spontaneous?
20%
When do polyps present in FAP?
Puberty - why screening starts at 10-12
Surveillance for FAP?
- Surveillance following colectomy: Endoscopic evaluation of the rectum or ileal pouch should be performed annually (or every other year for end-ileostomies)
- Surveillance for upper GI tumors: depends on stage
- Stage 0: Every four years
- Stage I: Every two to three years
- Stage II: Every one to three years
- Stage III: Every 6 to 12 months
- expect to see desmoids, gastric fundus polyps, and periampullary tumors (will kill your patient after their colectomy)
Treatment for FAP?
Total colectomy at age 20; proctocolectomy, rectal mucosectomy and ileoanal pouch
Tumors associated with Gardner’s syndrome (type of FAP)?
- colon ca, desmoids, osteomas (skull, mandible)
- supernumerary teeth
- mesenteric fibromatosis
- soft tissue tumors
Gene mutation associated with Gardner’s syndrome?
APC gene (type of FAP)
Tumors associated with Turcot’s syndrome?
- Colon ca, brain tumors
Gene mutation associated with Turcot’s syndrome?
APC gene (another type of FAP, along with Gardner)
Lynch syndrome inheritance?
Autosomal dominant
Gene mutation associated with Lynch syndrome?
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene
Lynch I has increased risk of what?
Colon cancer
Lynch II has increased risk of what?
Colon cancer, ovarian, endometrial, bladder, stomach cancer
What is the Amsterdam II criteria?
Used to diagnose Lynch syndrome
- 3 first degree relatives w/ HNPCC assd ca
- 2 generation penetrance
- 1 relative w/ cancer < 50
- exclude FAP
- verify tumors by path (villous, more dysplasia)
Screening for Lynch syndrome?
- colonoscopy at 25 or 10y before primary relative got cancer q1-2 yrs
- usually, you’ll find right sided cancers
- women need endometrial biopsy q3y, annual pelvic exams, earlier mammograms
% of Lynch syndrome with metachronous lesions?
35%
Tumors associated with juvenile polyposis?
Hamartomatous polyps
Surveillance for juvenile polyposis?
- DRE to help dx, colonoscopy after dx
- polyposis is >5 polyps
- Yearly: PE, CBC, colonoscopy, EGD starting 12 yr
- Total colectomy if cancer develops
Cancer risk with juvenile polyposis? Other characteristics?
- Polyps do not have malignant potential, but patients have increased cancer risk - 68% by 60
- AD; SMAD4, BMPR1A; hamartomatous polyps
- SMAD4 has association w/ HHT (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia - skin, buccal mucosa)
Characteristics associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome?
- AD; STK11
- GI hamartoma polyposis, dark pigmentation around mucous membranes (melanin spots) on face and extremities - if both present, dx; if FHx +1, also dx
- colon, pancreas, breast cancer
Surgical options for Peutz-Jeghers? Surveillance?
- Need polypectomy if possible (may be too many to resect) - 2% colon, duodenal cancer risk. No need for ppx colectomy.
- Birth: yearly testicular exams.
- 8 yrs: Colonoscopy. Polyps - q3y scope. No polyps - rpt at 18.
- 18 yrs: monthly breast exams.
- 21 yrs: annual Pap smear and pelvic exam.
- 25 yrs: annual breast MRI/mammogram.
- 30 yrs: annual MRCP.
Other cancers associated with Peutz-Jeghers?
Gonadal, breast, biliary
Characteristics associated with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome?
Hamartomatous polyps, atrophy of nails and hair, hypopigmentation
Malignant potential with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome?
NO malignant potential
Diet associated with sigmoid volvulus?
High-fiber (Iran, Iraq)
Radiographic findings with sigmoid volvulus?
Bent inner tube sign, bird’s beak on gastrograffin enema
Treatment for sigmoid volvulus?
Decompress with colonoscopy (not if having peritoneal signs), bowel prep, sigmoid colectomy on same admission
% of sigmoid volvulus that will decompress with colonoscopy?
80% reduce, 50% recur
Age range for cecal volvulus?
20-30y
% of cecal volvulus that will decompress with colonoscopy?
20%
Treatment for cecal volvulus?
OR for R. hemi; can try cecopexy if colon is viable and pt is frail
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
Bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, weight loss
Layers of colon involved in ulcerative colitis?
Mucosa, submucosa
Location of UC?
Colon only with rare backwash ileitis
Anatomic distribution of UC?
Continguous involvement begining distally, spares anus (unlike Crohn’s)
Likelihood of rectal involvement in UC?
90%
Endoscopic features of UC?
Contiguous mucosal involvement, rectal involvement, mucosal friabilitiy, distorted vascular pattern
Findings on barium enema of UC?
Loss of haustra, narrow caliber, short colon, loss of redundancy
Medical treatment of UC?
- Medical treatment is first line
- Steroids used in acute/severe phase and weaned
- 5-ASA (+/- topical) is for mild and maintenance
- added to steroids for severe
- Infliximab, azathioprine added for steroid failure in severe
- Surgery if no response to these
Clinical diagnosis of toxic megacolon?
Fever, tachycardia, dilated colon on abd xray
Treatment of toxic megacolon?
NGT, fluids, steroids, bowel rest, TPN, abx (treat 50%), then surgery
Pathologic features of Crohn’s disease?
Transmural inflammation, granulomas, fissures, sumbucosal thickening/fibrosis, submucosal inflammation
Distinguishing characteristics of Crohn’s colitis?
Small bowel involvement, asymmetric distribution, rectal sparing common, gross bleeding in 70-75%, fistulization, granulomas