Bowel cancer Flashcards
What are the common tumour types in small intestine?
Tumours related to lymphomas in particularly small areas such as hormonal secretions which take place from specialised cells in small bowel wall
What is the most common type of bowel disease?
Colonic adenocarcinoma
What are the symptoms of colonic carcinoma?
None until the tumour completely blocks bowel, rectal blood loss and anaemia
How do most colonic carcinomas arise?
Arises in polyps within the surface of the lumen-may be pedunculated or flat
How long do most polyps take to progress to malignancy?
5 years
What is the further preventative steps taken if a polyp is found via endoscopy?
Remove it- no cancer + no lesion
Screening interval is also reduced from every 5 years to 2 years
What are the aetiologies of colonic carcinomas?
Smoking, a diet high in fat and meat and low in veg and fibre, intestinal polyps, ulcerative colitis and genetics-p53 in 75%
Can mouth polyps progress to cancer?
No
What is/are the intestinal polyposis found in small intestine and is it high/low risk?
Peutz-Jehger’s syndrome- low risk- presents with peri-oral melanosis
What is/are the intestinal polyposis found in large intestine and is it high/low risk?
Gardiner’s syndrome and Cowden’s syndrome- high risk
How are colonic carcinomas staged?
Dukes’ classification- according to level of invasion of bowel wall
What are the 4 stages of colonic carcinomas and what is the 5 year survival rate?
A- Submucosal- 80%
B-Muscularis-65%
C-Lymph nodes-45%
D-Liver-5%
What are the possible treatments for colonic carcinomas?
Surgery, hepatic metastases, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, palliative treatment, early detection and elimination of polyps
What are the surgery options for colon cancer?
Resection with anastomosis, if not possible then stoma
How are colonic carcinomas screened?
Faecal immunochemical test in UK (scotland from age 50 every 2 years), elsewhere- barium enema, endoscopy, CT/MRI scan, CEA
