PURPOSE: Although multiple primary colorectal cancer has been recognized as a significant clinical entity, its clinical and pathological features and its prognosis are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to clarify clinical and pathological features of multiple primary colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 1669 patients who underwent surgery for primary colorectal cancer from January 1997 to June 2005, 26 patients (1.6%) with multiple primary colorectal cancer were identified. We reviewed clinical characteristics including diagnostic interval, lesions, operating methods, and TNM stage, and we defined the index lesion as the most advanced lesion among the synchronous lesions. For the purposes of the study, the colon and rectum were classified into three segments. The right-side colon included the appendix, cecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, and transverse colon, and the left-side colon included the splenic flexure, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients with multiple primary colorectal cancers, nineteen patients were male and seven patients were female, with a mean age of 61.5 years. Nineteen patients had synchronous colorectal cancers and seven patients had metachronous colorectal cancers. In the metachronous cases, the mean diagnosticinterval was 36.8 months. The site of the first lesion in metachronous colorectal cancers was the right colon in five cases (71.4%) and the left colon in two cases (28.6%), and the site of the second lesion was the rectum in six cases (55.5%), the right colon in three cases (33.3%), and the left colon in one case. The TNM stage of the second lesions in the metachronous colorectal cancers was stage II in four cases (57.1%), stage III in one case (14.3%), and stage IV in one case (14.3%). For the synchronous colorectal cancers, the operation methods were single-segment resection combined with endoscopic mucosal resection in five cases (26.3%), single-segment resection alone in six cases, two-segment resection in six cases, and total colectomy in two cases. CONCLUSION: In metachronous colorectal cancers, the secondary lesions were later-stage cancer. Therefore, careful postoperative follow-up is necessary for patients who have undergone surgery for colorectal cancers. Further study of therapeutic modalities is important for synchronous colorectal cancers.
Appendix ; Cecum ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rectum

Congenital anomalies such as positional anomalies of the right half of the colon are more common when compared to its left half. We report a rare case of congenital anomaly where the transverse colon was totally absent. Ascending colon continued as descending colon at the right colic flexure. Ascending and descending colons formed an inverted U shaped loop which was situated in the right half of the abdomen. The sigmoid colon began from the descending colon, on the right side of the midline and coursed to the left iliac fossa. The terminal part of ascending colon and entire descending colon had a persistent mesocolon. The jejunum and ileum were situated in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity. This anomaly can cause volvulus of the colon at any stage of life. Furthermore, the knowledge of this anomaly is very useful for radiologists, gastroenterologists and surgeons.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Cavity ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse* ; Ileum ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Jejunum ; Mesocolon*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Changes in subsite distribution of colorectal cancer have been shown in recent years. The carcinoma tend to shift to more proximal colon and this proximal shift is influenced by age and sex. This study was designed to delineate the relationship of age to subsite incidence of colorectal cancer and to define the role of gender in this difference. METHOD: We have analyzed the data by patients with colorectal cancer from 1985 to 1995 for elucidate the relationships between age, sex and prinmry location of colorectal cancer. 749 patients(male 454, female 295) were diagnosed of colorectal cancer performed by colonoscopy and/or sigmoidoeopy were divided into three groups by their location of cancer (Right colon: appendix, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, T-colon proximal 2/3 Left colon: T-colon distal 1/3, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon Rectum: rectum). RESULTS: 1) The mean age of all patients was 53.84 +/- 13.11(yr). Mean ages of Right colon, Left colon, and Rectal cancer group were 55.54 +/- 14.12, 55.32 +/- 12.51, 52.22 +/- 13.09(yr), respectively. The mean age of Right colon and Left colon cancer group is significantly older than that of Rectal cancer group (p=0.0040, p=0.0042). 2) Infemale age group over 56, mean age of Right colon cancer group is shown to be 3.35 and 4.82 years older than Left colon cancer group and Rectal cancer group, respectively (p=0.0062, p=0.0053) and Colon cancer tend to develop on more right side according to increase in age. 3) Above correlation was not observed below 55 of both sexes and male age group over 56. 4) No significant differences in histological differentiation and tumor stage were observed among the three groups. 5) The study was conducted to evaluate the difference in the location of colorectal cancer between two following groups; The first group diagnosed from 1985 to 1990 and the second group from 1991 to 1995, yet significant statistical difference was not observed. CONCLUSION: Age increase seems to show correlation with right shifting of colon cancer, and this correlation was most significant in old women age group. This finding suggests unknown factor strongly linked to age and sex might play important role in carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer.
Appendix ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the role of colonoscopy in children with hematochezia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 277 children who underwent colonoscopy because of hematochezia between January, 2003 and July, 2010. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 6.0+/-4.4 (7 days~17.8 years) years. The male to female ratio was 2.2 : 1. The duration between the 1st episode of hematochezia and colonoscopy was 4.9+/-12.1 months. Characteristics of hematochezia included red stool (65.1%), blood on wipe (12.8%), bloody toilet (11.9%), and blood dripping (10.2%). The most proximal region of colonoscopic approach was terminal ileum (84.5%), cecum (9.5%), hepatic flexure (2.8%), and splenic flexure (3.2%). Eighty five patients (30.6%) had no specific abnormal findings. Major causes of hematochezia were polyp (26.4%), food protein induced proctocolitis (6.9%), infectious colitis (5.4%), lymphofolliculitis (5.7%), non specific colitis (5.7%), and vascular ectasia (5.1%). The hemorrhagic sites included the rectum (24.0%), rectosigmoid junction (18.1%), sigmoid colon (13.5%), ascending colon (14.2%), transverse colon (11.3%), descending colon (7.8%), cecum (8.1%), and terminal ileum (3.1%). The recurrence rate of hematochezia after colonoscopy was 19.1%. Colonoscopy was performed in 262 patients (94.6%) with conscious sedation. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 5 patients. Complications of colonoscopy or sedation were not found. CONCLUSION: The causes and lesional localization of pediatric hematochezia were diverse. Colonoscopy has an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of hematochezia in children. Total colonoscopy is recommended to detect the cause of hematochezia.
Cecum ; Child ; Colitis ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Conscious Sedation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Ileum ; Male ; Medical Records ; Polyps ; Proctocolitis ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia is a distinct disease entity which causes frequent gastrointestinal bleeding. It predominantly arises at the stomach and duodenum in the upper gastrointestinal tract and cecum and ascending colon in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The general histological finding of the angiodysplasia is a submucosal vascular ectasia and tortuosity. We have experienced two cases of the intestinal angiodysplasia. The first case occurred on a jejunum in a 22-year-old woman who had anemia. The second case occurred on a sigmoid colon in a 59-year-old man who had constipation. In addition to the general histologic finding of the angiodysplasia, the microscopic findings of the first case revealed some capillary hemangioma-like areas; and in the second case, there was a marked ischemic change and the thickening of the wall.
Anemia ; Angiodysplasia* ; Capillaries ; Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Constipation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ; Young Adult

The common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children are intussusception, rectal juvenile polyp, chronic inflammatory colitis and Meckel's diverticulum. Bleeding from Dieulafoy's ulcer at the lower gastrointestinal tract is rare, but this often occurs in the rectum. So far, there has been no report that a Dieulafoy lesion in the ileocecal valve might be formed after acute colitis in a pediatric patient. In this case report, a Dieulafoy-like lesion at the ileocecal valve caused lower gastrointestinal bleeding in an asymptomatic 14-year-old woman. A careful history taking and medical examination are mandatory to identify the bleeding focus in the GI tract and this can be treated by endoscopy.
Adolescent ; Child ; Colitis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Intussusception ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Polyps ; Rectum ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Expandable stents were inserted for temporary decompression of the colorectum before single-stage surgery or for palliation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a self-expandable nitinol stent, which can be placed through the working channel of an endoscope, for treatment of malignant colorectal obstructions. METHODS: From May 2000 to April 2001, twenty patients (eleven female, nine male, aged 39~81 years) with malignant colorectal obstructions were treated for relief from the obstructions with endoscopically guided intubation of an expandable nitinol stent through the working channel of an endoscope. Of twenty patients, thirteen underwent placement of the stent for presurgical decompression; seven, for palliative decompression. RESULTS: The site of obstructions were on the rectum (n=8), sigmoid colon (n=6), descending colon (n=2), transverse colon (n=3) and ascending colon (n=1). Stent placement was successful in 18 (90%) of the 20 patients. Failure occurred in two patients with long and tortuous lesions involving hepatic flexure or splenic flexure. All patients tolerated placement of the stent well, with no procedure-related complications. In patients with successful placement of the stent, symptoms of obstruction resolved within 72 hours. Twelve patients underwent the formal bowel preparation and elective single-stage surgery without complications 4~7 days after stent placement. In six patients, the stents provided palliative decompression of the colorectum. There was stent migration in two patients during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Placement of a self-expandable nitinol stent through the working channel of an endoscope is technically feasible and safe. Stent placement allowed patients with malignant colorectal obstruction to undergo single-stage surgery in cases of operable disease and to provide palliative decompression in cases of inoperable disease.
Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Decompression ; Endoscopes* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intubation ; Male ; Rectum ; Stents*

A 31-year-old woman with a 5-year history of Crohn's disease was admitted to our hospital because of recurrent right lower quadrant pain and diarrhea. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple fistulas between the terminal ileum, the sigmoid colon, and the cecum, and mucosal wall thickenings due to an active inflammatory process and mucosal enhancements. Colonoscopic examinations showed a finger-like projection of a polypoid mass at the ileocecal valve, long-neck, finger-like pseudopolyps at the cecum, and soft, lumen narrowing and multiple pseudopolyps at the sigmoid colon and the intact rectum. There was healing scarring of the anal fistula. These findings were compatible with those of Crohn's disease. Histologic findings were chronic inflammation with erosion and regenerative crypt epithelium. The patient underwent infliximab therapy. She underwent a right colectomy, a Hartman's procedure, and a small bowel segmental resection due to multiple fistulas. The pathologic diagnosis was a signet-ring-cell carcinoma with non-caseating granuloma in the ascending colon, ileum, and sigmoid colon. We report this case of Crohn's disease associated with a colonic signet-ring cell carcinoma.
Adult ; Cecum ; Cicatrix ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Epithelium ; Female ; Fistula ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Infliximab ; Rectal Fistula ; Rectum

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The colorectal polyp, particularly the adenoma, has been regarded as a precursor of cancer. The incidence of colorectal polyps has been reported at various rates according to investigation centers in foreign countries. In Korea, the incidence of colorectal polyps has been reported as very low according to the few reports, which was involved a few cases and were partial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate prospectively the incidence and the clinicopathologic features of colorectal polyps. METHODS: A colonoscope was inserted up into the cecum in 1,889 patients among 2,001 trials from Oct. 1996 to Aug. 1997 (success rate: 94.4%). Of the 1,889 full colonoscopies, the following were excluded; 1) referred patients with suspicious colorectal cancer or polyps, 2) patients with suspicious rectal cancer determined by rectal examination, 3) patients who had follow-up colonoscopy after a polypectomy or cancer surgery, and 4) patients who had periodic colonoscopy due to FAP or HNPCC. There were a total of 1,683 full colonoscopies in this study. The majority of the total cases involved a colonoscopy due to benign anal disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or routinechecks for health. RESULTS: There were 946 men (56.2%) and 737 women (43.8%). The mean age was 48.2 yrs (13~88 yrs) for men and 48.1 yrs (18~89 yrs) for women. 422 patients were found to have 645 colorectal polyps (1.52 polyps per patient). The incidence of polyps was 25.1% (32.0% for men, 16.1% for women) and increased after the 6th decade in men (44.0%) and in women (23.0%). 281 patients were found to have 426 colorectal adenomas. The incidence of adenomas was 16.6% (21.9% for men, 9.9% for women) and increased after the 6th decade, 32.0% in men, and 15.9% in women. Solitary polyps were present in 277 patients (65.6%) while 94 patients (22.3%) had two polyps and 51 patients (12.1%) had between 3 and 8 polyps. The polyp retrieval rate was 96.9%. There were 426 adenomas (66.0%), 75 hyperplastic (11.7%), 120 inflammatory (18.6%), and 24 miscellaneous (3.7%) polyps. Of the 426 adenoma, there were 397 tubular adenoma (93.2%), 18 tubulovillous adenoma (4.3%), 4 villous adenoma (0.9%), 6 in situ carcinoma (1.4%), and 1 invasive carcinoma (0.2%). 6 in situ carcinoma's were detected in tubular adenoma and 1 invasive carcinoma in tubulovillous adenoma. Of 645 polyps, the sessile type was 87.9%. The polyp size varied from 1 mm to 25 mm and 79.2% were under 5mm. Also, 85.7% of adenomas were sessile and 74.7% were under 5mm. 22.0% of polyps were located in rectum, 35.4% in sigmoid colon, 9.5% in descending colon, 13.3% in transverse colon, 19.8% in ascending colon and cecum. The distribution of adenoma was similar to that of polyp. 40.1% of adenoma showed moderate to severe dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the incidence of polyp in Korea was higher than that in previous reports and 42.6% of polyps were proximal to rectosigmoid colon. Therefore, we suggest that we should try to detect and remove colorectal polyps by more active colonoscopy.
Adenoma ; Adenoma, Villous ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopes ; Colonoscopy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Korea ; Male ; Polyps* ; Prospective Studies* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopic perforation can be treated by both operative or non-operative methods. Non-operative management, and especially conservative management, may be appropriate for selected individuals. We wanted to verify the usefulness of performing conservative management for treating colonoscopic perforations. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the colonoscopic perforation cases that occurred in the recent 5 yrs. 11 cases of perforation occurred from among 8,536 colonoscopic procedures. RESULTS: Ten cases occurred from a therapeutic procedure (five from polypectomy and another five occurred from an endoscopic (submucosal dissection) and one case occurred from a diagnostic procedure. The perforation sites were the ascending colon (three cases), transverse colon (two cases), descending colon (one case), sigmoid colon (two cases), and rectum (three cases). There were five intraperitoneal perforations and five retroperitoneal perforations. All the cases were detected within 12 hours and all the cases had received good bowel preparation. 10 cases were managed conservatively (nothing by mouth, broad spectrum antibiotics and, Levin tube suction). One case was managed by an operative procedure due to the large size of the defect and the patient's wish. All the patients recovered without complications. The mean hospital stay was 9.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopic perforation can managed conservatively in selected cases, such as for those cases that will undergo post-therapeutic colonoscopy and those cases that have undergone good bowel preparation.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Mouth ; Rectum ; Surgical Procedures, Operative