Bowel cancer: pathology and the screening process

Question 1

What increases and decreases the risk of bowel cancer

Answer 1

Foods rich in red meat and fat increase the risk of bowel cancer, foods rich in veg and fruit reduce the risk along with physical activity and low BMI

Question 2

What are the risk factors for bowel cancer

Answer 2

Long-standing UC, CD (lesser extent), presence of adenoma in the large bowel, FH of bowel cancer and old age.

Question 3

How does a high fibre diet reduce bowel cancer

Answer 3

increases the formation of short-chain fatty acids which promote healthy gut microorganisms and reduce the proliferation of neoplastic cells, increases stool bulk and transit time so potential carcinogens have less contact with the bowel mucosa.

Question 4

What is a polyp and what are their pathological features?

Answer 4

A polyp is a protruding growth which can be an adenoma or malignant. test tube-like appearance.

Question 5

What is an adenoma

Answer 5

pre-cancerous lesions and consist of dysplastic epithelium.

Question 6

What are the 4 types of polyps in the large bowel

Answer 6

Hyperplastic polyp, Villous adenoma, Tubular adenoma and tubulovillous adenoma.

Question 7

What is the Adenoma-Carcinoma sequence?

Answer 7

This is a stepwise progression from normal mucosa adenoma to cancer.

Question 8

How do we diagnose bowel cancer

Answer 8

History and clinical examinations, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. Histological examination of biopsy .