Colorectal Cancer and Screening Flashcards

1
Q

What % of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas?

A

95%

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2
Q

What % of colorectal cancers are due to IBD?

A

1%

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3
Q

What inheritable conditions are related to colon cancer?

A

HNPCC (5%)
FAP < 1%
Other CRC syndromes

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4
Q

Risk factors for colon cancer

A
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
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5
Q

What do the majority of colorectal cancers arise from?

A

Pre-existing polyps

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6
Q

Types of colorectal polyps

A

Epithelial

Mesenchymal

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7
Q

Histological types of colorectal adenomas

A

Tubular (75%)
Villous (10%)
Intermediate tubulovillous (15%)

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8
Q

Molecular sequence of colorectal adeno carcinoma

A

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

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9
Q

Presentation of colorectal cancer

A
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
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10
Q

Who should you investigate with specific symptoms indicative of colorectal cancer?

A

Rectal bleeding or diarrhoea

  • each symptom on its own investigation if > 60 y/o
  • combined symptoms investigate if > 40
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11
Q

If non menstruating women have iron deficiency anaemia, what malignancy are they most likely to get?

A

Right sided colonic malignancy

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12
Q

Investigation for colon cancer

A

Colonoscopy
Barium enema
CT colonography
Ionising radiation

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13
Q

Risks of colonoscopy

A

Perforation
Bleeding
Can exacerbate renal failure

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14
Q

Prevention of colorectal cancer

A

Lose weight
Exercise
Fruit and Veg

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15
Q

Who is screened for colon cancer?

A

Average risk population

High risk groups

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16
Q

Aim of population screening

A

Detect pre-malignancy adenomas/early cancer in the general population

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17
Q

What tests are done for the population screening of colon cancer?

A
FOBT
FIT
Flexible sigmoidoscopy 
Colonoscopy 
CT colonography
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18
Q

What does FOBT stand for?

A

Faecal occult blood test

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19
Q

What does FIT stand for?

A

Faecal immunochemical test

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20
Q

Why would a flexible sigmoidoscopy be done in population screening for colon cancer?

A

2/3rds of cancer are in the left colon so can do a more focused search in just in that area

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21
Q

Features of Scottish bowel screening programme

A

Age 50 - 74 days
FOBT every 2 years
FOBT positive => colonoscopy

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22
Q

What % does Scottish bowel screening programme give a reduction of risk in colorectal cancer mortality?

A

15%

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23
Q

Heritable conditions for colorectal cancer

A

FAP

HNPCC

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24
Q

What does FAP stand for?

A

Familial adenomatous polyposis

25
Q

What HNPCC stand for?

A

Hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer

26
Q

Who are at risk of colorectal cancer?

A
FAP
HNPCC
IBD
Familial risk 
Previous adenocarcinomas/colorectal cancer
27
Q

What is the inheritance of FAP?

A

Autosomal dominant

28
Q

What happens in FAP?

A

Multiple (>100) adenomas throughout colon
- 50% by 15 y/o
- 95% by 25 y/o
High risk of malignant change in early adulthood, in almost all cases by age 40 years old if untreated

29
Q

What is the genetic change in FAP?

A

APC gene on chromosome 5

30
Q

Screening in have FAP

A

Annual colonoscopy from age 10-12 years

31
Q

If a significant number of polyps is found on screening for FAP, what can be done?

A

Prophylactic protocolectomy

32
Q

What age is a prophylactic protocolectomy usually done in FAP?

A

16-25 years old

33
Q

Extracolonic manifestations of FAP

A
Benign gastric fundic cystic hyperplastic polyps (benign in stomach)
Duodenal adenomas (approx. 90% in periampullary cancer 5%)
34
Q

What % of FAP gives rise to desmoid tumours?

A

10 - 20%

35
Q

Definition of desmoid tumour

A

Non cancerous growths that occur in the connective tissue

36
Q

What does CHRPE stand for?

A

Congenital retinal hypertrophy of the pigment epithelia

37
Q

Treatment of FAP

A

Prophylactic proctocolectomy

NSAIDs chemoprevention

38
Q

Role of NSAIDs chemoprevention in FAP

A

Sulindac reduces polyp number and prevents recurrence of higher grade adenomas in the retained rectal segment
Reduces the rate at which polyps grow in GIT and rectum

39
Q

Inheritance of HNPCC

A

Autosomal dominant

40
Q

Pathology of HNPCC

A

Tumours have a molecular characteristic called microsatellite instability (MSI) - frequent mutations in short repeated sequences of DNA (microsatellites)

41
Q

Genetics of HNPCC

A

Mutation in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, e.g. MLH1 and MSH2

42
Q

Presentation of HNPCC

A

Early onset colorectal cancer (40s) right sided

43
Q

What side of the colon does HNPCC occur?

A

Mostly right sided

44
Q

Assosiated cancers of HNPCC

A

Endometrial
Genitourinary
Stomach
Pancreas

45
Q

Diagnosis of HNPCC

A

Clinical criteria (Amsterdam/Bethesda) genetic testing

46
Q

Screening in HNPCC

A

From age 25 - 2 yearly colonoscopy

47
Q

Which of FAP and HNPCC has a higher risk?

A

FAP

48
Q

When is there a high moderate risk of a familial history of CRC?

A

CRC in first degree relative kinship, None < 50 y/o

CRC in 2 first degree relatives in kinship, mean < 60 y/o

49
Q

Screening of high moderate risk of familial history of CRC

A

5 yearly colonoscopy from age 50 years

50
Q

When is there a low moderate risk of familial CRC?

A

CRC in 2nd degree relatives
> 60 years
in 1 first degree relative < 50 y/o

51
Q

How often should a patient get a colonoscopy if have had previous CRC?

A

5 yearly

52
Q

How often should familial high risk groups get colonoscopy?

A
10 years post diagnosis
Then dependent on 
- duration 
- extent 
- activity of inflammation 
- presence of inflammation
53
Q

Treatment of colorectal cancer

A

Surgery
Stoma formation (colostomy)
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy

54
Q

What would be the palliative care for colorectal cancer?

A

Chemotherapy

Colonic stenting to prevent colonic obstruction

55
Q

What is the staging of colorectal cancer?

A

Dukes staging

56
Q

5 year survival of the different Dukes staging

A
A = 83% 
B = 64% 
C = 38%
D = 3%
57
Q

What are villous adenomas?

A

Colonic polyps with the potential to become malignant

58
Q

Presentation of villous adenomas

A
Characteristically secrete large amounts of mucous which can cause electrolyte disturbances
Vast majority asymptomatic
Non specific lower GI symptoms
Secretory diarrhoea may occur
Microcytic anaemia
Hypokalaemia