The risk of colorectal cancer is substantially higher in patients with long-term colorectal inflammation than in the general population.Prolonged inflammation is an essential factor that triggers colorectal cancer.The dynamic pathological evolution process of the classic"inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis"in the colorectum is proctocolitis→dysplasia→cancer.Traditional Chinese medicine lacks a systematic consensus on the pathogenesis of colorectal"inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis".This article proposes the theory of"pathogenic factors lurk intestinal collaterals"to explain the development law of pathogenesis in the dynamic evolution of colorectal"inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis".Internal and external factors can trigger the movement of the latent pathogenic factors,thereby damaging the intestinal tissues,when latent pathogenic factors are hidden in the intestinal collaterals,and the healthy qi is unable to expel them.The prolonged course of the disease further weakens the healthy qi,allowing the latent pathogenic factors to accumulate in the intestinal collaterals,intertwine with phlegm-dampness and blood stasis,accelerate accumulation,and lead to cancer."Latent pathogens trapped in the intestinal collaterals"is the core pathogenesis during inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis.Thus,to prevent colorectal inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis,consideration should be given to the principle of driving away pathogenic factors and dredging the collaterals in clinical practice.The theory regarding"latent pathogens trapped in the intestinal collaterals"can provide a theoretical reference for syndrome differentiation and treating colorectal inflammation-mediated carcinogenesis and offer novel ideas for clinical treatment.