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Colon Disorders
and GI Neoplasms
Tory Davis PA-C
January 2010
Colon Disorders

Anorectal Disorders






Fissure
Fistula
Hemorrhoid
IBS- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Diverticular Disease
IBD- Inflammatory Bowel Disease


Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative Colitis
GI Neoplasms
Esophageal
 Stomach
 Colorectal / anorectal
 Pancreatic
 Hepatic

Anal Fissure





Acute longitudinal tear or chronic ovoid ulcer
in anal epithelium. Located posterior or
anterior midline.
Pain, severe with defecation
Sometimes bleed
Often result from laceration with secondary
infection.
Pain  internal sphincter spasm
decreased blood supply
perpetuating fissure
Anal Fissure Tx
Reduce local trauma: stool softener,
fiber
 Protect: zinc oxide, glycerin
suppository
 Relieve pain: topical anaesthetic
(benzocaine, lidocaine), warm sitz bath
 Surgical (last choice) - internal
sphincterotomy

Anorectal Fistula






Tube-like tract with one opening in anal tract
and other in perianal skin
Usually a chronic condition arising from
acute perirectal abscess
Constant to intermittent drainage of purulent
or serosanguinous fluid
+/- pain, depends on if infected
Exam 1+ openings, +/- palpable cordlike
tract. Probe to see depth, direction
Tx: Surgical- deroof or seal with fibrin glue
Hemorrhoids







Aka “Piles”
Dilated veins of hemorrhoidal plexus in
lower rectum
Dentate line divides internal from external
hemorrhoids
Locations: L lateral, R anterior, R posterior
zones
Often asymptomatic, sometimes itching or
protrusion.
External: can thrombose. Ow!
Internal: often bleed after BM
Hemorrhoids

Internal– graded I- IV
– remain internal
 II – prolapse with strain, reduce
spontaneously
 III. Require manual reduction after BM
 IV. Won’t go back
I
Thrombosed
Hemorrhoid
Results in perianal hematoma
 Acute onset of exquisite pain
 Firm blue/purple perianal nodule
 Tx with sitz baths, analgesics
 If able in 1st 24-48h, excision gives
immediate relief

Tx Non-thrombosed
hemorrhoids
Symptomatic
 Sitz baths
 Witch hazel compress
 phenylephrine 0.25% (Preparation H)
 Anesthetic oint
 Surgical: photocoag, rubber band
ligation, hemorrhoidectomy

Irritable Bowel
Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
 Poorly
understood, but real.
 Characterized by recurrent upper
and lower GI sx, varying abd pain,
constipation and/or diarrhea, abd
bloating
IBS Pathophys
No consistent motility abnormality
 Some pts demonstrate abnl gastrocolic
reflex with  colonic activity
 Maybe  gastric emptying
 But even in demonstrated abnormality,
sx don’t correlate
 Excess mucus production even in
absence of mucosal injury

More pathophys
Hypersensitivity to normal amounts of
intraluminal stretch.
  perception of pain with normal
amounts of intestinal gas
 Can be exacerbated by hormonal
fluctuations (incr prostaglandins with
menses causes more pain)

IBS S & S
Abdominal pain related to or relieved
by defecation
 Change in stool frequency and/or
consistency
 Mucus in stool
 Sensation of incomplete evacuation

S&S





Onset teens or 20s
Irregular, recurrent bouts
Sx usually do NOT affect sleep
Sx are triggered by stress, also by some
foods
Varies per patient
Extra-intestinal sx
Fibromyalgia
 Headache
 Dyspareunia
 TMJ syndrome
 Anxiety
 Depression

Constipation
predominant
Constipation alternates with nl BMs
 Clear-white mucus
 Colicky or dull constant pain
 Often relieved by BM
 Eating may trigger sx
 Bloating, flatulence, eructation,
nausea, dyspepsia, heartburn

Diarrhea predominant



Diarrhea immediately after eating, especially
after rapid eating
Pain, bloating, rectal urgency
Incontinence happens
Differential Diagnosis







Lactose intolerance
Diverticular dz
Drug induced
Drug abuse
Biliary tract dz
Bacterial enteritis
Parasites




Early IBD
Ischemic colitis, esp
if age > 60
Hypothyroid
Malabsorption
syndromes
Rome Criteria
Standardized sx-based criteria for dx
 Three months of the following sx:

– Abdominal pain/discomfort relieved by
defecation or assoc with change in
freq/consistency of BM
– Disturbed defecation involving at least 2
of these:
 Altered
stool frequency, form or passage
 Passage of mucus
 Bloating or feeling of abdominal distention
Red Flags












Onset after age 50
Weight loss
Progressive dysphagia
S/S bleeding or dehydration
Steatorrhea
Recurrent vomiting
Fever
 ESR or CRP
Anemia, leukocytosis
Hypokalemia
Strong FHx colon cancer
Blood or pus in stool
Physical exam
Patient appears healthy
 Abd +/- tender, esp LLQ

– Possibly palpable tender sigmoid
Nl DRE- no occult blood
 Females: nl pelvic exam (r/o ovarian
tumor/cyst, infection, endometriosis)

IBS testing

ONLY if objective abnormalities:
consider abd US or CT, barium enema

Stool cx, O&P - ONLY if supporting
travel hx or fever, hematochezia or
acute onset of diarrhea
IBS tx


Sympathetic understanding, patience,
explain condition and address fears
Diet:
–

–
–

Normal, moderate sized meals eaten slowly.
 gas-producing food. Consider  lactose
Eliminate sorbitol, mannitol in pts with diarrhea
Dietary fiber to bulk up and soften stool, but start
low, go slow or you’ll worsen sx
ID stressors, mood d/o, or anxiety and
address them
IBS Drugs

Anticholinergics to reduce spasm

Serotonin receptor modulators
IBS Drugs


Loperamide (Immodium) for diarrhea
TCAs for bloating, constipation, abd pain
– Down-regulates spinal cord and cortical afferent
pathways from intestine




Peppermint- relaxes smooth muscle spasm.
Significant improvement in clinical studies.
Ginger- digestive aid
Aloe vera for constipation
Fennel – reduces bloating.
Inflammatory
Bowel Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
IBD

2 distinct disease entities
– Only about 10% are “indeterminate colitis”
Usually fairly easy to differentiate

Both
– Cause bloody diarrhea
– Are characterized by chronic, relapsing and
remitting inflammation of various sites of the GI
tract
– Have inflammation from cell-mediated immune
response in GI mucosa
IBD Epi

Gender equal, all ages, but peak incidence
ages 14-24
– UC has 2nd peak 50-70



Most common in people of N. European or
Anglo-Saxon origin.
1st degree relatives 4-20x increased risk
Smoking increases Crohn’s risk, but
decreases risk of ulcerative colitis
IBD Extra-Intestinal
Manifestations


Common to BOTH Crohn’s and UC
1. Disorders which parallel IBD flares
– Peripheral arthritis, episcleritis, aphthous
stomatitis, erythema nodosum

2. Disorders probably resulting from IBD
but appear independent of flares
– Ankylosing spondylitis, sacroiliitis, uveitis,
primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Can appear years before IBD sx, and should prompt
eval for IBD!
IBD Extra-Intestinal
Manifestations

3. Consequences of disrupted bowel
physiology (primarily seen in severe Crohn’s
of small bowel)
– Malabsorption (causing B12 and mineral
deficiencies), anemia, clotting disorders, bone
demineralization, kidney stones, hydroureter &
hydronephrosis (from ureteral compression by
inflammatory process)

Factors in all 3 categories can increase risk
of thromboembolic disease
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease
Chronic transmural inflammatory dz,
usually effects distal ileum and RIGHT
colon, but can occur anywhere along
GI tract
 Segmental rather than continuous
(UC)
 Not symmetric
 Can have significant perirectal
lesions, but rare rectal bleeding

Crohn’s pathophys



Inflammation of crypts small abscesses &
aphthoid ulcers which deep longitudinal
and transverse ulcers with mucosal edema
Transmural spread of inflam
lymphedema, bowel wall thickening
Severe inflam muscle hypertrophy,
fibrosis, strictures (can cause obstruction)
Crohn’s pathophys

Abscesses common, and resulting fistulas
can penetrate nearby structures
– Bowel loops, bladder (can pee poop), psoas
muscle (peritonitis sx), enterocutaneous

Granulomas- Pathognomonic. Found in
liver, lymph nodes, all layers of bowel wall
Crohn’s pathophys


Discontinuous affected segments of bowel
sharply demarcated from normal areas
(“skip areas”)
Where is it?
–
–
–
–
35% ileum alone
45% ileum + colon
<20% colon alone, usually spares rectum
Uncommon in esoph, stomach, duodenum (but
can be there)
Crohn’s S&S
Chronic diarrhea w/ abd pain, fever,
anorexia, wt loss
 Tender abdomen with mass or fullness
 Gross rectal bleeding RARE
 One third with significant perianal
disease: fissures, fistulas, abscesses

Crohn’s S&S



Can present w/ acute abd- looks like
appendicitis or obstruction
Recurrent disease sx vary- Pain common
with simple recurrence and with abscess
Severe flare: pt is SICK: marked
tenderness, guarding, rebound
– Segmental stenosis can bowel obstruction with
colicky pain, abd distention, vomiting
– Perforation not uncommon. Enterovesicular perf
causes pneumaturia. Draining cutaneous
fistulas
Crohn’s Dx
To diagnose, you must first suspect!
 Suspect in

– pt w/ inflam or obstructive sx
– pts w/ perianal fistulas
– pts w/ unexplained arthritis, fever,
anemia, erythema nodosum,
– kiddos with growth retardation
Work-up and Dx

Pt presents w/ acute abd:
– flat & upright plain films, abd CT to find
obstruction, abscess, fistula, and to r/o
other cause (ie appendicitis)
– Consider pelvis U/S for female with
predom lower abd/pelvic sx
Work-up and Dx

Less acute pres:
– GI series with small bowel follow-thru and
spot films of terminal ileum
– Considered diagnostic if shows stricture,
fistulas or separation of bowel loops
Work-up and Dx
If symptoms predominantly colonic (ie
diarrhea)
 Order barium enema which may show:

– Barium reflux into terminal ileum
– Irregularity and nodularity of bowel wall
– Wall stiffness and thickening
– Narrowed lumen

Or colonoscopy with bx, sampling for
enteric pathogens and visualization of
terminal lumen
Labs
CBC to monitor for anemia,
leukocytosis
 CMP to monitor liver function, check
for hypoalbuminemia, electrolyte
abnormalities
 ESR, CRP- nonspecific, but useful
serially to monitor disease status

Crohn’s Prognosis
Rare cure
 Intermittent exac/remit
 Severe dz can be debilitating, severe
pain and dysfunction
 Dz related mortality low, with most
caused by GI cancers (small bowel,
colon)

Ulcerative
Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis





Chronic, inflammatory, ulcerative disease
arising in colonic mucosa, most often
characterized by bloody diarrhea
Only in the colon.
Continuous, not segmental
Symmetric
Not perirectal. No abscesses. No fistulas.
UC Pathophysiology

Begins in rectum
– Can remain localized (ulcerative proctitis),
or extend to involve entire colon

Inflammation affects mucosa and
submucosa only, with sharp border
between healthy/diseased tissue
More UC patho

Fulminant colitis: transmural extension
of ulceration (NB this is the only time
UC is transmural)ileus & peritonitis

Colon loses muscular tone and
dilatesTOXIC MEGACOLON
UC- S&S
Bloody diarrhea of varied intensity &
duration. Asymptomatic periods
 Insidious onset of attack

  urge to defecate
– Mild low abd cramps
– Blood/mucus in stools
– Can start s/p infection (ie amebiasis)
UC S&S

When ulceration confined to
rectosigmoid:
– Stool generally normal to hard
– Rectal discharges of mucus loaded with
RBCs and WBCs accompany or occur
between bowel movements.
– Systemic sx mild or absent
UC S&S

When ulceration extends proximally:
– Stools looser, more frequent (>10/day)
– Severe cramps, rectal tenesmus
– No night respite (diff from IBS or psychogenic
diarrhea)
– Stools watery, or all blood and pus
– Severe:


Systemic sx include malaise, fever, anemia, anorexia,
and wt loss
Can cause hemorrhage requiring transfusion
UC Diagnosis
Typical sx by hx, particular attn to
extra-intestinal S&S or hx prev similar
attacks
 Need to distinguish from Crohn’s,
other causes of acute colitis (infection,
ischemia)

UC Testing
Labs: same as Crohn’s
 Stool cx
 Microscopy of fresh poop for
Entamoeba histolitica
 Recent hosp or abx? Check C. diff
toxin stool assay
 Sigmoidoscopy- permits visualization,
but can’t distinguish between Crohn’s
and UC

W/U fulminant sx





Flat and upright abd xray: look for toxic
megacolon
NO SCOPES (perf risk!)
CBC, ESR, lytes, PT/PTT, type and cross
Watch closely for progressive peritonitis
Serial abdominal films to follow course
UC Prognosis

Usually chronic with remit/relapse
– 10% recover completely from initial event
– 10% have initial presentation with fulminant
colitis; can die

Risk of colon cancer
– Proportional to duration of sx and amt of colon
affected, but NOT to disease activity
Colon Cancer in UC


Begins to appear about 7 yr from illness
onset in pt w/ extensive disease
Cumulative likelihood :
– 3% at 15 yrs, 5% at 20 yrs, 9% at 25 yrs

Regular colonoscopies after 8-10 yrs of
disease
– ANY grade of dysplasia is high risk to progress
to cancer, and colectomy is advised
IBD Treatment
Both Crohn’s and UC
5-aminosalicylic acid
(5-ASA)
Blocks production of leukotrienes and
prostaglandins
 Only active intraluminally
 Sulfasalazine
 Start low, go slow.
 Add folate supplement.
 Check CBC, LFTs serially

Corticosteroids

For acute flares- not ideal for maint

Until sx remit (7-28 days) then taper
Immunomodulating
agents- Azathioprine





Inhibit T cell function
Good & effective long term- may  steroid
needs. Takes 1-3 months to reach efficacy
Monitor for bone marrow suppression
3-5% develop high fever or pancreatitis – do
NOT retry
Rare hepatotoxicity, check LFTs q 6 mo
Immunomodulating agents

Methotrexate –
– For severe dz not responsive to steroids, failed
azathioprine.

Cyclosporine-
blocks lymphocyte activation
– For severe UC unresponsive to steroids, pts
who may o/w need colectomy
– In Crohn’s, used for refractory fistulas or
pyoderma
– Reserve use, and don’t use >6 mo. Renal
toxicity, seizures, opportunistic infection
Anticytokine drugs
Infliximab, CDP571, CDP870,
adalimumab
 Antibodies against TNF

ALSO

Antibiotics
– Useful in Crohn’s, not UC
– Help heal fistulas
– Metronidazole or Cipro
Probiotics
 Supportive Care

Crohn’s Tx
General: cramps/diarrhea 
loperamide (except in acute/severe)
 Mild: 5-ASA, abx
 Moderate: steroids, transition to maint

– Obstruction: add NG suction, IV fluids,
parenteral nutrition
– Usually resolves in few days
Crohn’s Tx

Fulminant/abscess: toxic appearance,
fever, persistent vomiting, rebound
– IV fluids, abx, surgical or percutaneous
drainage
– No steroids till infection controlled

Fistulas: abx, if no response in 3-4
weeks, add immunomodulator
Crohn’s Surgery


70% ultimately will have surgery- but
reserve for recurrent obstruction, intractable
fistula/abscess
Resection ameliorates, does NOT cure
– Further surgery required in 50% of cases
– Recurrence is likely, even if all disease is
removed
UC Tx

General
– Limit raw fruits and veggies
– Try milk-free
– Loperamide prn

Mild Left Sided disease
– 5 ASA enema/suppository (kind of topical
tx)
– Steroid enema
– Maybe oral 5-ASA
UC Tx

Moderate-Extensive Disease
– Inflammation proximal to splenic flexure
– Oral and enema 5-ASA
– +/- steroids

Severe- >10 bloody stools daily,
tachycardic, febrile, severe abd pain
–
–
–
–
High dose IV steroids
IV fluids
+/- blood transfusion
Monitor for toxic megacolon
UC Tx

Fulminant colitis
– Discontinue all anti-diarrheals
– NPO with NG suction
– Aggressive IV fluids and lytes
– High dose IV steroid
– Abx- cipro and metronidazole
– If no improvement in 24-48h, surgery to
avoid perfsepsisdeath
UC Surgery
1/3 of pts with extensive UC ultimately
get colectomy
 Total proctocolectomy = Cure

– No recurrence, and all colon cancer risk
is removed
Diverticular
Disease
What are they?
Diverticuli are saclike mucosal
outpouchings protruding from a tubular
structure (the colon, in this case.)
 True diverticulum- contains all layers
of parent structure (including muscle)
 False diverticulum- Mucosal projection
thru muscular layer.

– aka pseudodiverticulum
Diverticulosis





Presence of multiple pseudodiverticuli in the
colon.
Likely result of lifelong low fiber diet
Usually asymptomatic, but sometimes
inflame or bleed
Usually in sigmoid, but can be anywhere in
large colon
Uncommon under age 40. every 90 yo has
them.
Why?

Increased intraluminal pressure
causes mucosal extrusion thru weak
points in muscular layer of bowel.
Usually next to intramural vasculature
– Why? – area of weakness, there is
already a hole there
S & S Diverticulosis
70% asymptomatic. Usually incidental
finding
 15-25% become inflamed and painful
(diverticulitis)
 10-15% painless bleeding. Likely
caused by erosion of adjacent
vasculature by local trauma (hard
stool)

Diverticulosis Tx
Reduce segmental spasm. High fiber
diet, supplement with psyllium seed or
bran
 Tx of diverticular bleed:

– 75% stop spontaneously but many will
bleed enough to require transfusion. Tx of
bleeding is surgical. Colonoscopic epi,
heat or laser.
Diverticulitis





Inflammation of a diverticulum
Usually in sigmoid
Micro or macro perforation releases
intestinal bacteria
Localized inflammation in 75%
Remaining 25% can lead to abscess, free
intraperitoneal perforation, bowel
obstruction, fistulas to bladder, small
bowel,etc
Diverticulitis S & S







Abdominal pain
LLQ tenderness
Fever
+/- peritoneal signs
If obstructed, n/v, abdominal distention
Bleeding is rare
Fistula can present as pneumaturia, feculent
vaginal discharge, cutaneous or myofascial
infection
Dx
High suspicion in known diverticulosis
 ABD CT with oral and IV contrast

– Need to r/o other causes, like
appendicitis, colon CA, ovarian CA
– Labs: CBC shows leukocytosis
Diverticulitis TX

Mild- Rest, liquid diet, oral abx, go home.
– cipro 500 mg BID or
– amox/clavulanate 500 mg TID PLUS
metronidazole 500 mg QID



Sx subside quickly. Proceed to low fiber
diet for 1 month
Barium enema in 2-4 weeks to eval colon
Then back to high fiber diet
Tx- severe diverticulitis
Severe pain, fever, leukocytosis, or if
taking prednisone (can cause  risk of
perf)
 Bed rest, NPO, IV fluids, IV abx

– Ceftazidime 1 g q 8h PLUS
– Metronidazole 500mg q 6-8h

May do CT guided percutaneous
drainage of abscess
Surgery
Free perforation
 General peritonitis
 No improvement or increase in fever or
pain/tenderness on above measures
after 48h
 Resect involved segment of colon

Surgery- Who else?
2+ previous diverticulitis attacks
 Persistent tenderness
 Endoscopic or imaging signs of cancer
 Dysuria with diverticulitis in male or in
female with hysterectomy (no barrier
between/may have fistula)

GI Neoplasms
Cancer in the GI Tract



Cancer: unregulated cell growth (neoplasm)
plus the ability to invade distant tissues
(malignancy)
Cancer arises usually from rapidly dividing
or damaged tissue
Entire GI tract susceptible:
Esophageal Cancer
13,500 cases and 12,500 deaths
overall annually
 Squamous cell- Most common type
 Adenocarcinoma- 2nd most common
 Other esophageal tumors: spindle
cell, verrucous, pseudosarcoma,
sarcoma, malignant melanoma

– 3% are metastases
Squamous cell


8k cases annually
In US
– 4-5x more common in blacks
– 2-3x more common in males

Risk factors: alcohol ingestion, tobacco use
(any form), achalasia, HPV infection,
ingestion of caustic or hot liquids, irradiation,
esophageal webs
Esophageal
Adenocarcinoma
Usually in distal esoph
 4x more common in whites

– >50% of esoph CA in whites

Smoking!
– But not alcohol

Most cases develop from Barrett’s
esophagus
Esoph CA S&S
Earliest stages- no sx
 Dysphagia when lumen <14 mm

– Progressive from solids, semisolids,
liquids, saliva.
– Wt loss- universal, even with good
appetite
Esoph CA S&S

Compression of nerves by mass effect
– Recurrent laryngealhoarseness
– SympatheticHorner’s sign (ptosis,
miosis, anhidrosis, enophthalmosis,
anisocoria) - usually unilateral
– Elsewhere spinal pain, hiccups,
paralysis of diaphragm

Dyspnea from malignant pleural
effusion or pulmonary metastases
Esoph CA Dx
If suspicious, endoscopy with bx
 If confirmed

– CT chest/abd to assess spread
– Endoscopic U/S to assess depth of tumor
and regional node involvement
– CBC, lytes, LFTs
Prognosis

Average- 5 year survival <5%
– If restricted to mucosa, 80% survival
– If in submucosa, 50%
– With extension into muscularis, 20%
– Extension to adjacent structure, 7%
– Distant metastasis, 3%
Treatment


Stage 0, I, some II- surgical resection only,
no benefit to chemo or radiation
Stage II, III- Preoperative radiation/chemo
to  size, then surgery
– Surg: en bloc resection of whole tumor with
clean margins, all potentially malignant lymph
nodes, part of prox stomach to get draining
lymphatics, then gastric pull-up with
esophogastric anastomsis.
– If no surg, both chemo & rad

Stage IV- palliation, no surgery
Palliation & Support

Relieve obstruction to allow oral intake
– Stent, dilation, radiation, laser coag


Nutritional support. Enteral or parenteral
supplementation. Consider early
surgical/endoscopic placement of feeding
tubes to allow feeding when esoph blocked
End-of-life decisions made early
Gastric Cancer
21k cases, 12k deaths
 95% gastric adenocarcinoma
 2nd MC cancer worldwide
 Multifactorial etiology; H. Pylori
causative in most cases

Types of Gastric
Adenocarcinoma
Classified by gross appearance
 1. Protruding- polypoid. Better prog
b/c detected sooner
 2. Penetrating- ulcerated tumor
 3. Superficial spreading- spreads
along mucosa or infiltrates superficially
within stomach wall

Gastric CA S&S


Initially nonspecific dyspepsia
Later:
– Early satiety (gets full really easy)

If tumor obstructs peptic outlet or if stomach nondistensible
– Dyspepsia

If tumor obstructs esoph outlet
– Weight loss
– Hematemesis, melena with secondary anemia
– Sometimes primary sx are from mets (jaundice,
bone fracture, ascites)
Physical Exam

May be normal, or you may find
– Heme positive stool
– Epigastric mass
– Adenopathy – umbilical, L
supraclavicular, L axillary
– Hepatomegaly
Gastric CA Dx
Endoscopy with multiple bx and brush
cytology
 CT chest/abd for spread- if CT neg,
endoscopic U/S
 CBC, lytes, LFTs- to assess hydration,
anemia, liver mets

Prognosis
Overall 5 year survival 5-15%
 In mucosa only 80%
 In local nodes 20-40%
 More widespread, fatal within 1 year

Treatment
Depends on spread and pt preference
 Surgery- If ca limited to stomach and
local nodes only, gastrectomy with
local node removal results in 10
month survival (vs 3-4 without)
 Extensive node involvement or
metspalliation

Colorectal
Neoplasms
Polyps





Mass of tissue arising from bowel wall,
protruding into lumen
Pedunculated or sessile
Occur in rectum, sigmoid, with decreasing
frequency toward cecum
Usually no symptoms
Concern: malignant transformation in
previously benign adenomatous polyp
Polyp S&S and Dx




Usually no sx
If any, rectal bleeding
Most found incidentally on colonoscopy
Tx: snare or electrosurgical bx during
colonoscopy
– If incomplete removal, laparotomy
– If deep invasion into muscularis, eval for colon
cancer
– Monitor with serial scopes
Colorectal Cancer
130k cases, 57 k deaths
 Incidence rises after 40, peaks 60-75
 70% in rectum/sigmoid
 95% adenocarcinoma, usually
transformation within adenomatous
polyp. 80% sporadic, 20% heritable

Colorectal Ca risk
factors


Ulcerative colitis
Diet
– Low fiber -fiber speeds colonic transit, reduces
exposure to carcinogens
– High in animal protein
– High fat

Theory: Fats increase anaerobes in colon which
convert bile to
– High in refined carbs


Smoking
Genetic factors
Genetic risk factors:
hereditary polyp syndromes
(Look-ups)
– Polyposis coli (Familial Adenosis
Polyposis - FAP)
– Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon CA
(HNPCC)
– Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
– Familial Juvenile Polyposis Coli
– Found during family medical history
– Generally warrant more frequent
screening
S&S-depend on location

R colon- bleeding (occult or melena) 
anemia fatigue/weakness
– Large lumen, liquid contents, so rare obstruction

L colon- Constipation alt with diarrhea or
stool freq. Partial or complete obstruction
with abd pain can be initial presentation
– Smaller lumen, semisolid contents. CA can
encircle bowel.

Sigmoid or rectal- tenesmus, ribbon stools
Screening For
Colorectal Cancer


Very large part of primary care practices
Screening method and frequency based on
risk assessment, average or high
– Average Risk:



No 1st order relatives with colon CA
No prior Hx colon CA or polyps
No Hx IBD
– High Risk: Yes to any of the above
Colon CA Screening

Modalities:
– Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT)
– Sigmoidoscopy
– Colonoscopy
FOBT

FOBT alone reduces mortality from colon
CA by 33%
– Sensitivity single FOBT is 30%
– Annual FOBT screen 92% sensitive
– 2% of positive FOBT have CA

Problems with FOBT:
– Misses non-bleeding polyps
– Reduces mortality only 30%
– Many false positives
Sigmoidoscopy

Sigmoidoscopy reaches 60 cm to
splenic flexure
– Misses about ½ of colon
– Reduces mortality by 60%
– Screen every 5 years
– If polyps or lesions found must do
colonoscopy
Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy most sensitive screen
– Finds most polyps
– Can remove by bx simultaneously
– Requires conscious sedation
– Risk of perforation, other hazards
– Not usually an office procedure
– Prep
DCBE

Double Contrast Barium Enema
– Screens entire colon
– No sedation required
– Some cramping
– Prep required
– Must do colonoscopy if lesions found
Virtual colonoscopy

Virtual colonoscopy using computerenhanced spiral CT scan
– Initial studies in screening populations
showed high sensitivity similar to
colonoscopy
– If lesions found, need colonoscopy
anyway
– Still must do prep
– No bx possible
Capsule Colonoscopy

Pill or Capsule Colonoscopy easier on
patient
– Prep, then swallow pill
– Recording sensors attached to abdomen
– Results downloaded and reviewed after 6-8
hours
– No manipulation of camera possible
– Colonoscopy for biopsy of lesions
– Limited data to date, not recommended, yet
Average risk

Average Risk: screen all pts >50 y.o.
Choices:
– Offer FOBT or FIT yearly. If positive, then
colonoscopy
– Offer sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. If
positive, then colonoscopy
– Offer colonoscopy every 10 years
– Offer DCBE every 5 years
High-Risk Patient
Screening



For High Risk pts begin to screen age 40
1st order relative screen every 3-5 years
Genetic syndromes- more frequent
screening. Likely will be followed by
specialist
Screening For
Colorectal Cancer

Overall screening efforts very poor
– And liability very high…

65% of all cases found when
symptomatic, not at screening
Prognosis

10 year survival
– CA limited to mucosa 90%
– Extension thru bowel wall 70-80%
– With positive nodes 30-50%
– With metastases <20%
Colorectal Cancer Tx
Surgical- wide resection of tumor, plus
regional lymph drainage with
reanastomosis
 Adjuvant chemo  survival by 10-30%
 If no surgical cure option, consider
palliative surgery, or tumor debulking
measures (lessen obstructive sx)

Follow-up

Colonoscopy q year x 5 yrs, then q 3
yrs

H&P, CBC, LFTs q 3 months x 3 yrs,
then q 6 months x 2 yr
Small Intestine Tumors



Less than 5% all GI cancers
Many benign tumors: adenomas,
leiomyomas, lipomas, angiomas
Increased risk malignancy with Crohn’s Dz,
celiac disease
– Adenocarcinoma, lymphoma

Presentation: recurrent cramping abd pain,
periodic small bowel obstruction (SBO),
intussusception, chronic bleeds
Small Intestine Tumors

Diagnose with CT and DCBE
– Usually out of reach of colonoscope or
EGD
Exploratory laparotomy for biopsy
 Stage as colon cancer
 Treat with surgical resection, +/radiation or chemo for debulking

Anorectal cancer
Usually adenocarcinoma
 Mets to lymphatics of rectum and
inguinal nodes
 Risk factors: HPV, chronic fistulas,
irradiation, receptive anal intercourse,
 Screening with Pap/HPV testing
 Tx: wide local excision, chemo and
rad

Pancreatic Cancer





30,500 cases, 29,000 deaths
Most are exocrine tumors, primarily ductal
adenocarcinoma
80% found in head of pancreas
Mean age 55, 2x more common in males
Risk: smoking, chronic pancreatitis,
longstanding DM, some heredity
Pancreatic Cancer


Usually no symptoms until lesion too
advanced to resect
Symptoms non-specific, with large DDx
– Weight loss, pain, anorexia, fatigue,
dyspepsia, reflux, jaundice
– Severe upper abd pain, radiates to back,
relieved by forward lean or fetal position
– Obstructive jaundice and resulting pruritis
in 80-90%
S&S



Palpable mass, ascites in 20%
Left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy
(Virchow's node)
90% have locally advanced dz w/
retroperitoneal structure involvement,
regional lymph spread, or mets at time of
pres
Diagnosing Pancreatic
Cancer




U/S initially to show ducts, stones, masses
CT better defines tumor, and vascular
involvement
MRI great for vasculature
Biopsy: transcutaneous, ERCP, guided fineneedle aspiration
Prognosis/tx



Overall, <2% survival
80-90% unresectable (mets or invasion of
major blood vessels)
If resectable- Whipple procedure
(pancreaticoduodenectomy) with adjuvant
chemo+ rad 40% 2 yr and 25% 5 yr
survival if node negative
Treatment
Appropriate end-of-life care:
managing death, hospice care, etc
 Sx Control!
 PAIN- opioids (without concern for
addiction as barrier to effective pain
control)

Hepatic cancer

Liver is common place for metastasis for
many primary cancers, esp from GI tract,
breast, lung, pancreas.
– Mets more common than primary hepatocellular
carcinoma


Primary cancer14k deaths annually in US
Primary liver cancer more common in pts
with cirrhosis, common in areas with
prevalent Hep B & C infections
– Risk  100 fold in chronic hep B carriers
Liver Ca S&S
Initially nonspecific: abd pain, fever
 PE may show RUQ mass, or BIG,
hard, tender liver
 Hepatic bruits with pleuritic pain
 Late: jaundice, hepatic
encephalopathy
Primary Liver Cancer

Dx with
– imaging: U/S, MRI or abd CT w/ contrast
– Labs: AFP
– Liver bx for definitive dx

Overall 2 year survival <5%
– IF tumor is <2cm and localized to one
lobe, can try resection or transplant.
Chemo/rad NO help.
Hepatic Ca Prevention
Hep B vaccination
 Prevent cirrhosis
 Screen pts with cirrhosis for CA

– AFP and liver U/S q 6-12 mo