Wound Healing Flashcards
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, depending on the site of origin.
What is the global ranking of colorectal cancer in terms of commonality and mortality?
It is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death.
What is the 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer?
Approximately 55%.
What percentage of colorectal cancers are sporadic?
Nearly 70% of cases.
What hereditary syndromes are associated with colorectal cancer?
Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).
What is the adenoma-carcinoma sequence?
The progression of normal colonic mucosa to adenoma (polyp) and then to invasive adenocarcinoma.
What dietary factors increase the risk of colorectal cancer?
High intake of red and processed meat, low fiber diet, high saturated fat consumption.
What lifestyle factors contribute to colorectal cancer risk?
Tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity.
What anatomical structure marks the beginning of the colon?
The cecum, where the terminal ileum enters.
How long is the colon?
Approximately 1.6 meters.
What arteries supply blood to the colon?
Superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries.
Which artery supplies the rectum?
Branches of the internal iliac artery.
What is the primary venous drainage of the colon and rectum?
Veins running parallel to the arteries, draining into the portal system.
Which nerve fibers innervate the colon and rectum?
Parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers from the lower thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord.
What is the most common histological type of colorectal cancer?
Adenocarcinoma.
Which gene mutations are involved in colorectal cancer?
APC, KRAS, TP53, PTEN, and TGFβ mutations.
What are the three major molecular pathways in colorectal cancer?
Chromosomal Instability (CIN), Microsatellite Instability (MSI), CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP).
Which oncogene is involved in colorectal tumorigenesis?
RAS proteins encode small GTP hydrolases that function as a growth switch.
What role does the APC gene play in colorectal cancer?
Mutation of the APC gene initiates the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.
Which dietary factors are protective against colorectal cancer?
High fiber diet, vitamin D, and calcium intake.
What are the typical symptoms of right-sided colon cancer?
Abdominal pain, iron-deficiency anemia, melena, and a palpable mass in the right iliac fossa.
What are the symptoms of left-sided colon cancer?
Abdominal pain, constipation, change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding, tenesmus, and progressive weight loss.
What is the gold standard investigation for colorectal cancer?
Colonoscopy with biopsy.
What tumor marker is used to monitor colorectal cancer?
Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA).