Mandibular osteomas in unaffected sibs and children of patients with familial polyposis coli

Orthopantomography of the mandible (OTM) showed osteomas in 3 of 34 non-affected sibs and children of the probands in 14 families with polyposis coli. The observed to expected ratio with osteomas was 0.35, which is not significantly lower than 1.0 and in accordance with the frequency in the normal population. Although the result does not enable a definite evaluation of the diagnostic value of OTM, the finding suggests that this method may be used as a supplement to regular proctosigmoidoscopic screening of first-degree relatives of polyposis patients.

Fertility and pregnancy in women with familial adenomatous polyposis

A questionnaire study was carried out among 58 Danish women with familial adenomatous polyposis concerning fertility, pregnancies, abortions and deliveries. Further data were obtained from obstetric records and general practitioners. The fertility and the course of the pregnancy of women with polyposis, frequency of miscarriages, legal abortions, mature and premature infants corresponds to the frequency among the obstetric population in Denmark. Of the 73 infants, eight (11%) were delivered by caesarean section. Of the 16 women who gave birth after an operation for familial adenomatous polyposis, 5 (31%) had a caesarean section. Of the seven infants who died, two had lethal congenital malformations and three infants were very premature.

Metachronous colorectal cancer in young patients: expression of the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome?

The cumulative incidence rate of metachronous colorectal cancer in patients younger than 40 years of age at diagnosis of the primary cancer has been shown to be 30 percent. Metachronous colorectal cancer is predominantly located in the right colon with a decreasing frequency toward the rectum. The risk of developing a metachronous colorectal cancer was found to be 16-29 times increased when compared with the risk of having a primary colorectal cancer. Because of the resemblance between characteristics of metachronous colorectal cancer and the features of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), it is proposed that young colorectal cancer patients developing metachronous colorectal cancer could in fact be HNPCC patients.

Survival of patients with Stage III colon cancer is improved in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer compared with sporadic cases. A Danish registry based study

AIM

Patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) seem to have a better prognosis than those with sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim was to compare survival after Stage III CC in patients with HNPCC with those having sporadic CC.

METHOD

A total of 230 patients with hereditary cancer from the Danish HNPCC Register and 3557 patients with sporadic CC from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Database, diagnosed during May 2001-December 2008, were included. HNPCC patients were classified according to mismatch repair mutation status and family pedigree. Sporadic cases had no known family history of cancer. Patient characteristics, geographical differences and survival data were analysed.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) was better in HNPCC patients compared with sporadic CC after stratification for sex and age (P = 0.02; CI 1.04-1.7). The 5-year survival was 70% in HNPCC patients compared with 56% in sporadic CC (P < 0.001). No survival difference was found between HNPCC subgroups but a tendency to better OS was seen in patients with Lynch syndrome. No geographical differences in OS were found. The median follow-up was 3.9 (0-9.5) years for HNPCC vs 3.2 (0-9.6) years for sporadic CC.

CONCLUSION

HNPCC patients with Stage III CC have a better OS compared with sporadic CC. No significant difference in OS was found within HNPCC subgroups.

Mandibular osteomas in sporadic colorectal carcinoma. A genetic marker

Pantomography of the mandible was performed in 98 patients with sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma. Twenty-eight patients (29%) had osteomas versus 5% in a control group (P < 0.001). Mandibular osteomas are found in most patients with the premalignant dominant syndrome familial adenomatous polyposis. Sporadic colorectal cancer examinations of married couples have shown that diet has only a moderate influence on the development of colorectal cancer, whereas pedigree studies indicate a genetic component. On this basis we conclude that mandibular osteomas are probably genetic markers of the development of sporadic colorectal carcinoma.

Chromosomal studies in familial polyposis coli

A study of five patients with familial polyposis coli did not demonstrate any structural abnormalities of prometaphase chromosomes from methotrexate synchronized peripheral blood lymphocytes. No chromosomal heritable fragile sites were observed, nor was sister chromatid exchange increased.

Serum gastrin values in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

PURPOSE

An evaluation of the importance of gastrin in the colorectal carcinogenesis in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis was conducted.

METHODS

Blood samples from 168 family members of 26 families were investigated for circulating gastrin. Blood was drawn from 65 affected patients, 66 clinically unaffected first-degree relatives, and 37 spouses.

RESULTS

We did not find any difference in distribution of serum gastrin among these groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results seem to exclude gastrin from being relevant in early carcinogenesis in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Clinical outcome in 520 consecutive Danish rectal cancer patients treated with short course preoperative radiotherapy

AIM

The purpose of this study was to analyse the results of preoperative short course radiotherapy in a consecutive, national cohort of patients with rectal cancer.

METHODS

Through a validated, prospective national database we identified 520 Danish patients who presented with high-risk mobile tumours in the lower two thirds of the rectum and were referred for preoperative radiotherapy with 5 x 5 Gy. The inclusion period was 56 months. Radiotherapy data was retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

Of the 520 patients, 514 completed radiotherapy and 506 had surgery. Surgery was considered curative in 439 patients. The 3-year local recurrence rate was 4.0% (95% CI 2.5-6.5%) and the distant recurrence rate at 3 years was 18.7% (95% CI 15.4-22.5%). The 5-year disease free survival rate was 40.2% (95% CI 27.0-53.1%) and overall survival 50.4% (95% CI 36.1-63.1%). Most tumours (61%) were classified as T3 or T4 and 41% of the local recurrences occurred in patients with a fixed tumour at surgery.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms data from randomised studies that the short course 5 x 5 Gy regime is a feasible treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer even when applied in a population outside clinical trials.

The first year with a J-pouch. A prospective evaluation

Proctocolectomy and construction of a pelvic pouch with ileo-anal anastomosis is now an established method in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, but various procedures are still under evaluation. This series comprises 97 patients with a 20 cm long J-shaped pouch and a short rectal cuff of 2-5 cm, prospectively evaluated after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Eight patients had their pouch removed because of septic complications. All the remaining patients evacuate spontaneously, although around one third still use constipating agents after 1 year. The stooling frequency gradually diminished from 7 (4-15) per 24 h to 4 (2-6) after 12 months. Continence also gradually improved during this period. No patient was incontinent of faeces but 13% still experienced episodes of minor soiling after 12 months. The procedure has proved to be safe providing patients are carefully selected, and 90% achieve a satisfactory or acceptable functional result.

Reappraisal of surgery for suppurative cholecystitis

Ninety-two patients with suppurative cholecystitis operated on as emergency cases were studied in retrospection. Obstructive cholangitis was seen in two, who eventually died. The mortality after cholecystectomy alone was related to the presence of stones in the common bile duct. The mortality after cholecystostomy alone was related to shock and septicemia, but not to the presence of common bile duct stones or obstructive cholangitis. It was concluded that suppurative cholecystitis with accompanying common bile duct stones should be treated with cholecystectomy and choledocholithotomy, because of the lower rate of reoperations and possibly lower mortality than after cholecystectomy alone; an exception should be made in patients with deterioration in clinical condition or patients in whom technical difficulties develop during the operation. These patients should be subjected to a cholecystostomy as the only emergency procedure.

CT- and MR colonography

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer and adenomas are widely accepted as precursors to colorectal cancer. Diagnosis and removal of adenomas are recommended to reduce cancer incidence and mortality. The current diagnostic methods include sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. Lately, CT- and MR colonography have emerged as non-invasive methods for colon imaging.

METHODS

At present, CTC and MRC require bowel preparation. However, preliminary studies have been carried out without colon preparation. After the colon has been filled with air or contrast, the patient is scanned in the supine and prone positions. Data are then downloaded to a workstation for post processing and image-analysis.

RESULTS

Results have shown a high sensitivity and specificity for polyps > or = 10 mm, comparable to the sensitivity of conventional colonoscopy and superior to double contrast barium enema.

CONCLUSIONS

With the exponential development in computer processing power, CT- and MR colonography holds the promise for future colon examination with the advantages of non-invasiveness, no need for sedation, and probably no bowel preparation. A major disadvantage, however, is the radiation dose during CT colonography. Future developments with the use of "intelligent" computers, better resolution and faster examinations will make CT and/or MR colonography realistic options to replace conventional diagnostic colonoscopy.

Mutation analysis of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in Danish patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

Development of one hundred or more adenomas in the colon and rectum is diagnostic for the dominantly inherited, autosomal disease Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP). It is possible to identify a mutation in the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) gene in approximately 80% of the patients, and almost 1,000 different pathogenic mutations have been identified in the APC gene up till now. We report 12 novel and 24' previously described germline APC mutations from 48 unrelated Danish families. Four families with the mutation localized in the 3' region of the gene showed great variance in phenotypic presentation.

In vitro tetraploidy in patients with non-hereditary colorectal adenoma and carcinoma. Support for a genetic influence on the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma

One hundred and seventy-two patients (76 patients with colorectal cancer, 46 with adenoma of the colon or rectum, and 50 controls) were investigated for in vitro tetraploidy in dermal fibroblast monolayer cultures. The incidence of increased in vitro tetraploidy (IVT) among patients with adenoma or carcinoma was significantly different from that of controls. There was no difference in the incidence of IVT between the adenoma patients and those with colorectal cancer. IVT was investigated among different subgroups of adenoma and colorectal cancer patients and was only found to be related to an inherited tendency to colorectal cancer.

Primary and secondary restorative proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis: complications and long-term bowel function

AIM

The aim of the study was to evaluate intra-operative difficulties, complications and long-term bowel function in polyposis patients undergoing conversion of an ileorectal anastomosis to an ileoanal pouch, compared with patients with a primary ileoanal pouch operation.

METHOD

A national register-based retrospective study was performed with clinical follow-up and a questionnaire on long-term bowel function.

RESULTS

There were 84 patients in the study: 59 (70%) had a primary pouch operation and in 25 (30%) a secondary pouch procedure was attempted. This was abandoned, in one case, leaving 24 patients who had a successful secondary restorative proctocolectomy. The median (range) follow-up was 123 (0-359) months. There were no intra-operative difficulties in the 59 primary operations, but intra-operative difficulties were reported in nine of 25 secondary operations (P < 0.001). Complications within 1 month of surgery occurred in six of 59 primary operations and in none of 24 secondary operations (P < 0.001); and late surgical complications occurred in eight of 55 primary operations and in eight of 24 secondary operations (P = 0.13). The only difference in bowel function was a lower frequency of nocturnal defaecation after secondary pouch formation (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Reoperation with proctectomy after a previous ileorectal anastomosis and conversion to restorative proctocolectomy is feasible in polyposis patients, with morbidity and functional results similar to those seen after a primary pouch operation.

Duodenal adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis: their structure and cellular composition with particular reference to endocrine hyperplasia

134 duodenal biopsies from 14 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were evaluated by light microscopy for the presence of adenoma. Staining reactions for endocrine cells were applied. 90 biopsies contained adenoma, almost all of the tubular type (98%) with dysplasia, ranging from mild to moderate. Accompanying hyperplasia of argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells was found in 91% and 64% of the adenomas, respectively. Based on histological criteria it is concluded that the risk of carcinoma development in the duodenum could equal that in colon and rectum. The observation of endocrine hyperplasia is new, and further investigations are needed before the significance of this finding can be evaluated.

Increased in vitro tetraploidy: a possible biomarker of non-heritable colorectal cancer?

In vitro tetraploidy (IVT+) in dermal fibroblast monolayer cultures has been studied in a series of patients with non-syndrome colon cancer and a control group to determine its value in identification of genetic predisposition for all colon cancers and its relevance to colon cancer occurrence on the basis of clinical history and pedigree data. Among 41 patients with colon cancer 18 (44%) had IVT+. In the control group 3 of 34 individuals (9%) showed IVT+. The difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.001). There was no correlation between a positive family cancer history, sex, age, or the presence of IVT+. Further studies using this possible in vitro biomarker may clarify the role of genetics in non-syndrome colorectal cancer.

Ophthalmoscopy for congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) in patients with sporadic colorectal carcinoma

In order to investigate the frequency of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) in sporadic colorectal cancer, ophthalmoscopy was carried out in 34 patients with colorectal carcinoma without known familial disposition. CHRPE is one of the most frequent extracolonic manifestations in familial adenomatous polyposis. None of the patients showed any sign of CHRPE. It is concluded that although genetic factors are presumably of importance in the development of sporadic colorectal cancer, CHRPE cannot be used as a marker for future risk of colorectal carcinoma except in polyposis families.

Increased in vitro tetraploidy and mandibular osteomas in patients with and without colorectal diseases

One hundred and seventy-six individuals with various colorectal diseases were investigated simultaneously for increased in vitro tetraploidy in dermal fibroblast cultures and for occult mandibular osteomas. In only 10 of the 176 persons were both presumed markers of colorectal genetic predisposition present in the same individual. No evidence was found that these traits are causally associated. A combination of the two presumed markers showed a tendency towards occurrence in individuals with a positive family history of colorectal cancer among first-degree relatives.

Mucosectomy and stapled pouch-anal anastomosis in familial adenomatous polyposis

AIM

In familial adenomatous polyposis, a restorative proctocolectomy with an ileo-anal pouch may be performed either with a mucosectomy and a hand-sewn anastomosis or as a stapled anastomosis without a mucosectomy. The disadvantage of the former is suboptimal bowel function and the disadvantage of the latter is a high risk of recurrent adenomas in the rectal mucosal remnant.

METHOD

A procedure is presented that combines the advantages of mucosectomy and stapled ileo-anal anastomosis.

RESULTS

No severe complications were seen in 14 patients. After a median follow up of 29 (range 7-144) months, 13 (93%) patients were fully continent day and night with a median frequency of defecation of 5 (range 2-8)/24 h. No adenomas were found at the annual endoscopic follow up.

CONCLUSION

Mucosectomy with a stapled ileo-anal pouch has few complications. Short-term results show good function and a very low risk of recurrent adenoma development.

In vitro tetraploidy in patients with ulcerative colitis

One hundred and seven patients (57 patients with ulcerative colitis and 50 controls) were investigated for in vitro tetraploidy (IVT) in dermal fibroblast monolayer cultures. There was no difference in incidence of IVT between patients with ulcerative colitis and controls. We advance the hypothesis that the genetic background of the colorectal cancer type found in ulcerative colitis differs from that found in the colon cancer syndromes and in non-hereditary colorectal cancers. Colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis is probably only dependent on the degree of inflammatory lesions of the colonic mucosa.

Mandibular osteomas in colorectal adenomas

Orthopantomography of the mandible was carried out on 50 patients with colorectal adenoma(s) without carcinoma or any known familial disposition. Four patients (8%) had osteomas, and we advance the hypothesis that individuals with both osteomas and adenomas represent a separate type of adenoma patient. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of the association of adenomas and mandibular osteomas.