Colonic Polyps & Carcinoma Flashcards
What are the histological types of colonic polyps?
LOW MALIGNANT POTENTIAL
- inflammatory polyps (UC)
- mucosal/submucosal polyps
- hyperplastic polyps -> most common (rectosigmoid)
- hemartomatous polyps (throughout GIT)
MODERATE MALIGNANT POTENTIAL
- serrated polyps -> sessile (>5mm in proximal colon)
- > traditional adenoma (rectosigmoid)
HIGH MALIGNANT POTENTIAL
- adenomatous polyps -> tubular (<5% malignant)
- > tubulo-villous (20% malignant)
- > villous: in rectum (50% malignant)
What are the clinical features of colonic polyps?
- asymptomatic usually
- hematochezia
- change in bowel habits
- mucus in stool
- pallor
What are the variants of adenomatous polyposis syndromes?
FAMILIAL ADENOMATOUS POLYPOSIS (more than 100 polyps)
- Gardener Syndrome
- Turcot syndrome
What are the variants of hamartomatous polyposis syndromes?
- Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
- Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome
What is familial adenomatous polyposis?
- autosomal dominant mutation of APC gene
- in 20-30s
- has a lifetime risk of progression to cancer -> 100% by 45 years
how is familial adenomatous polyposis diagnosed & treated?
DIAGNOSIS
- flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy -> > 100 polyps
TREATMENT
- PROPHYLACTIC PROCTOCOLECTOMY + ilioanal anastomoses
- celecoxib & aspirin can induce regression
What is Gardner’s syndrome?
FAP + osteomas of mandible or skull + dental abnormalities
What is Turcot Syndrome?
FAP + brain tumors
What is Peutz-Jeghers syndrome?
hemartomatous polyps + melanotic macules
What is Juvenile polyposis syndrome?
hamartomatous polyposis syndromes in < 5 year old children
How are polyps treated?
Remove polyps to prevent cancer
- snare polypectomy <5mm
- endoscopic resection
- surgical resection -> lesions larger than 2cm
- > suspected malignancy
- > hereditary polyposis syndrome -> proctocolectomy
When is the peak incidence of colonic cancer?
7th decade
- 2nd cause of cancer death after lung
- all begin as benign polyps or adenoma (5%)
What does the transformation of a polyp into cancer depend on?
TYPE of polyp
- Adenomatous polyps -> VILLOUS
SIZE of polyp
- >5mm
NUMBER of polyps
- if multiple -> higher risk
AGE of patient
- older age -> higher risk
What is the most common type of colonic cancer?
ADENOCARCINOMA (95%)
What are the causes of colonic cancer?
- chronic inflammation
- bile salts
- increased fat
- decreased fibers
- decreased calcium
- body size & habitus
- decrease physical activity
- alcohol