Colon and Rectum, C48 P308-325 Flashcards
ANATOMY
Identify the arterial blood supply to the colon:
P308 (picture)
- Ileocolic artery
- Right colic artery
- Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)
- Middle colic artery
- Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)
- Left colic artery
- Sigmoidal artery
- Superior hemorrhoidal artery
(superior rectal) - Middle hemorrhoidal artery
10 Inferior hemorrhoidal artery - Marginal artery of Drummond
- Meandering artery of Gonzalez
ANATOMY
What are the white lines of
Toldt?
P309
Lateral peritoneal reflections of the
ascending and descending colon
ANATOMY
What parts of the GI tract
do not have a serosa?
P309
Esophagus, middle and distal rectum
ANATOMY What are the major anatomic differences between the colon and the small bowel? P309
Colon has taeniae coli, haustra, and appendices epiploicae (fat appendages), whereas the small intestine is smooth
ANATOMY What is the blood supply to the rectum: Proximal? P309
Superior hemorrhoidal (or superior rectal) from the IMA
ANATOMY What is the blood supply to the rectum: Middle? P309
Middle hemorrhoidal (or middle rectal) from the hypogastric (internal iliac)
ANATOMY What is the blood supply to the rectum: Distal? P309
Inferior hemorrhoidal (or inferior rectal)
from the pudendal artery (a branch of
the hypogastric artery)
ANATOMY What is the venous drainage of the rectum: Proximal? P309
Via the IMV to the splenic vein, then to
the portal vein
ANATOMY What is the venous drainage of the rectum: Middle? P309
Via the iliac vein to the IVC
ANATOMY What is the venous drainage of the rectum: Distal? P309
Via the iliac vein to the IVC
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is it?
P309
Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the incidence?
P309
Most common GI cancer Second most common cancer in the United States Incidence increases with age starting at 40 and peaks at 70 to 80 years
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
How common is it as a cause
of cancer deaths?
P309
Second most common cause of cancer
deaths
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the lifetime risk of
colorectal cancer?
P310
6%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the male to female
ratio?
P310
≈1:1
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What are the risk factors?
P310
Dietary: Low-fiber, high-fat diets correlate with increased rates Genetic: Family history is important when taking history FAP, Lynch’s syndrome IBD: Ulcerative colitis > Crohn’s disease, age, previous colon cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is Lynch’s syndrome?
P310
HNPCC = Hereditary NonPolyposis
Colon Cancer—autosomal-dominant
inheritance of high risk for development
of colon cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What are current ACS recommendations for polyp/colorectal screening in asymptomatic patients without family (first-degree) history of colorectal cancer? P310
Starting at age 50, at least one of the following test regimens is recommended: Colonoscopy q 10 yrs Double contrast barium enema (DCBE) q 5 yrs Flex sigmoidoscopy q 5 yrs CT colonography q 5 yrs
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What are the current recommendations for colorectal cancer screening if there is a history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative less than 60 years old? P310
Colonoscopy at age 40, or 10 years before
the age at diagnosis of the youngest
first-degree relative, and every 5 years
thereafter
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What percentage of adults will have a guaiac-positive stool test? P310
≈2%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What percentage of patients with a guaiac-positive stool test will have colon cancer? P310
≈10%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What signs/symptoms are associated with the following conditions: Right-sided lesions? P311
Right side of bowel has a large luminal diameter, so a tumor may attain a large size before causing problems Microcytic anemia, occult/melena more than hematochezia PR, postprandial discomfort, fatigue
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What signs/symptoms are associated with the following conditions: Left-sided lesions? P311
Left side of bowel has smaller lumen and semisolid contents Change in bowel habits (small-caliber stools), colicky pain, signs of obstruction, abdominal mass, heme() or gross red blood Nausea, vomiting, constipation
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
From which site is melena
more common?
P311
Right-sided colon cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA From which site is hematochezia more common? P311
Left-sided colon cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the incidence of
rectal cancer?
P311
Comprises 20% to 30% of all colorectal
cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What are the signs/
symptoms of rectal cancer?
P311
Most common symptom is hematochezia
(passage of red blood ± stool) or mucus;
also tenesmus, feeling of incomplete
evacuation of stool (because of the mass),
and rectal mass
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the differential diagnosis of a colon tumor/ mass? P311
Adenocarcinoma, carcinoid tumor, lipoma,
liposarcoma, leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma,
lymphoma, diverticular disease, ulcerative
colitis, Crohn’s disease, polyps
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Which diagnostic tests are
helpful?
P311
History and physical exam (Note: 10%
of cancers are palpable on rectal
exam), heme occult, CBC, barium
enema, colonoscopy
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What disease does microcytic anemia signify until proven otherwise in a man or postmenopausal woman? P312
Colon cancer
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What tests help find
metastases?
P312
CXR (lung metastases), LFTs (liver metastases), abdominal CT (liver metastases), other tests based on history and physical exam (e.g., head CT for left arm weakness looking for brain metastasis)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the preoperative workup for colorectal cancer? P312
History, physical exam, LFTs, CEA, CBC,
Chem 10, PT/PTT, type and cross 2 u
PRBCs, CXR, U/A, abdominopelvic CT
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What are the means by
which the cancer spreads?
P312
Direct extension: circumferentially and then through bowel wall to later invade other abdominoperineal organs Hematogenous: portal circulation to liver; lumbar/vertebral veins to lungs Lymphogenous: regional lymph nodes Transperitoneal Intraluminal
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Is CEA useful?
P312
Not for screening but for baseline and
recurrence surveillance (but offers no
proven survival benefit)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What unique diagnostic test is helpful in patients with rectal cancer? P312
Endorectal ultrasound (probe is placed
transanally and depth of invasion and
nodes are evaluated)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
How are tumors staged?
P312
TMN staging system
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Give the TNM stages:
Stage I
P312
Invades submucosa or muscularis propria
T1–2 N0 M0
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Give the TNM stages:
Stage II
P312
Invades through muscularis propria or
surrounding structures but with negative
nodes (T3–4, N0, M0)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Give the TNM stages:
Stage III
P313
Positive nodes, no distant metastasis
any T, N1–3, M0
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Give the TNM stages:
Stage IV
P313
Positive distant metastasis (any T, any
N, M1)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the approximate 5-year survival by stage: Stage I? P313
90%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the approximate 5-year survival by stage: Stage II? P313
70%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the approximate 5-year survival by stage: Stage III? P313
50%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the approximate 5-year survival by stage: Stage IV? P313
10%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What percentage of patients with colorectal cancer have liver metastases on diagnosis? P313
≈20%
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
Define the preoperative
“bowel prep.”
P313
Preoperative preparation for colon/rectal resection: 1. Golytely colonic lavage or Fleets Phospho-Soda until clear effluent per rectum 2. PO antibiotics (1 gm neomycin and 1 gm erythromycin 3 doses) Note: Patient should also receive preoperative and 24-hr IV antibiotics
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What are the common preoperative IV antibiotics? P313
Cefoxitin, Unasyn®
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA If the patient is allergic (hives, swelling), what antibiotics should be prescribed? P313
IV Cipro® and Flagyl®
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What are the treatment
options?
P313
Resection: wide surgical resection of
lesion and its regional lymphatic drainage
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What decides low anterior resection (LAR) versus abdominal perineal resection (APR)? P314
Distance from the anal verge, pelvis size
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What do all rectal cancer
operations include?
P314
Total mesorectal excision—remove the
rectal mesentery, including the lymph
nodes (LNs)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the lowest LAR
possible?
P314
Coloanal anastomosis (anastomosis normal colon directly to anus)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What do some surgeons do with any anastomosis less than 5 cm from the anus? P314
Temporary ileostomy to “protect” the
anastomosis
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What surgical margins are needed for colon cancer? P314
Traditionally >5 cm; margins must be at
least 2 cm
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the minimal surgical
margin for rectal cancer?
P314
2 cm
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA How many lymph nodes should be resected with a colon cancer mass? P314
12 LNs minimum = for staging, and may
improve prognosis
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer? P314
5-FU and leucovorin (or levamisole)
chemotherapy (if there is nodal
metastasis postoperatively)
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the adjuvant treatment for T3–T4 rectal cancer? P314
Preoperative radiation therapy and
5-FU chemotherapy as a “radiosensitizer”
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the most common site of distant (hematogenous) metastasis from colorectal cancer? P314
Liver
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What is the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer? P314
Resect with ≥1-cm margins and
administer chemotherapy if feasible
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA
What is the surveillance
regimen?
P315
Physical exam, stool guaiac, CBC, CEA, LFTs (every 3 months for 3 years, then every 6 months for 2 years), CXR every 6 months for 2 years and then yearly, colonoscopy at years 1 and 3 postoperatively, CT scans directed by exam
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA Why is follow-up so important the first 3 postoperative years? P315
≈90% of colorectal recurrences are
within 3 years of surgery
COLORECTAL CARCINOMA What are the most common causes of colonic obstruction in the adult population? P315
Colon cancer, diverticular disease,
colonic volvulus