Colorectal Cancer and Screening Flashcards
What % of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas?
95%
What % of colorectal cancers are due to IBD?
1%
What inheritable conditions are related to colon cancer?
HNPCC (5%)
FAP < 1%
Other CRC syndromes
Risk factors for colon cancer
Genetics Age Male Previous adenocarcinoma/CRC Diet - decreased fibre - decreased fruit and veg - decreased calcium - increased red meat - increased alcohol Obesity Lack of exercise Smoking DM
What do the majority of colorectal cancers arise from?
Pre-existing polyps
Types of colorectal polyps
Epithelial
Mesenchymal
Histological types of colorectal adenomas
Tubular (75%)
Villous (10%)
Intermediate tubulovillous (15%)
Molecular sequence of colorectal adeno carcinoma
Activation of oncogene - k-ras, c-myc
Loss of tumour suppressor gene - APC, p53, DCC
Defective DNA repair pathway genes; microsatellite instability
Cell growth proliferation apoptosis
Presentation of colorectal cancer
Rectal bleeding Altered bowel opening - diarrhoea Iron deficiency anaemia - men of any age - non menstruating women Palpable rectal or right lower abdominal mass Acute colonic obstruction if stenosing tumour Weight Loss Anorexia
Who should you investigate with specific symptoms indicative of colorectal cancer?
Rectal bleeding or diarrhoea
- each symptom on its own investigation if > 60 y/o
- combined symptoms investigate if > 40
If non menstruating women have iron deficiency anaemia, what malignancy are they most likely to get?
Right sided colonic malignancy
Investigation for colon cancer
Colonoscopy
Barium enema
CT colonography
Ionising radiation
Risks of colonoscopy
Perforation
Bleeding
Can exacerbate renal failure
Prevention of colorectal cancer
Lose weight
Exercise
Fruit and Veg
Who is screened for colon cancer?
Average risk population
High risk groups
Aim of population screening
Detect pre-malignancy adenomas/early cancer in the general population
What tests are done for the population screening of colon cancer?
FOBT FIT Flexible sigmoidoscopy Colonoscopy CT colonography
What does FOBT stand for?
Faecal occult blood test
What does FIT stand for?
Faecal immunochemical test
Why would a flexible sigmoidoscopy be done in population screening for colon cancer?
2/3rds of cancer are in the left colon so can do a more focused search in just in that area
Features of Scottish bowel screening programme
Age 50 - 74 days
FOBT every 2 years
FOBT positive => colonoscopy
What % does Scottish bowel screening programme give a reduction of risk in colorectal cancer mortality?
15%
Heritable conditions for colorectal cancer
FAP
HNPCC