Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Head and Neck Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk to develop extra-intestinal malignancies. Immunosuppressed transplant patients show increased incidence of head and neck cancer with impaired survival. This study aims to identify risk factors for oral cavity (OCC) and pharyngeal carcinoma (PC) development in IBD, to compare clinical characteristics in IBD with the general population, and to assess the influence of immunosuppressive medication on survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively searched the Dutch Pathology Database to identify all IBD patients with OCC and PC between 1993 and 2011. Two case-control studies were performed: We compared cases with the general IBD population to identify risk factors, and we compared cases with non-IBD cancer patients for outcome analyses.

RESULTS

We included 66 IBD patients and 2141 controls with OCC, 31 IBD patients and 1552 controls with PC, and 1800 IBD controls. Age at IBD diagnosis was a risk factor for OCC development, Crohn's disease (CD; odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.07), and ulcerative colitis (UC; OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). For PC, this applied to UC (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). IBD OCC cases showed impaired survival (P = 0.018); in PC, survival was similar. There was no effect of immunosuppression on survival. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing of IBD cases revealed 52.2% (12/23) HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPCs).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that IBD is associated with impaired OCC survival. Higher age at IBD diagnosis is a risk factor for OCC development. We found no influence of immunosuppression on survival; 52.2% of OPC in IBD contained HPV.

[Diagnostic image (84). A woman with persisting perianal fissures]

A 63-year-old woman had perianal fissures, which were caused by an amelanotic melanoma of the anus.

Dysmenorrhea related to gallstone spilling after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A 28-year-old woman is presented with severe dysmenorrhea since a previous laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Spilled gallstones were embedded in the Douglas cavity and the visceral peritoneum of the genitalia interna. Dysmenorrhea was treated successfully by laparotomic hysterectomy and removal of all gallstones.

[Detection of Mycobacteria in tissue sections]

A study of 31 patients with Mycobacterium infection was performed. The results of Ziehl-Neelsen(ZN) and auramine-rhodamine(AR) staining techniques were compared with the results of cultures. This study demonstrates that the AR method is more sensitive than the ZN method, but they complement each other and when used in combination allow fast and reliable screening for organisms. The culture is important for classification of Mycobacterium species and drug susceptibility testing.

Estrogen synthesizing rare malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary with the presence of progesterone and androgen receptors in the absence of estrogen receptors

A case of a malignant Brenner tumor of a postmenopausal woman presenting with vaginal bleedings is described. Clinical and laboratory findings demonstrated estrogenic secretory function and action. The presence of aromatase activity based on in vitro tumor microsomal metabolism of androgen to estrogen is described. Tumor cytosol contained progestin and androgen binding components in the absence of estrogen binding activity. Estrogen binding activity was undetectable both by biochemical as well as histochemical assays.

Malignant Brenner tumor. A histologic, morphometrical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

The histologic, morphometric, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of a malignant Brenner tumor in a postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal bleeding is described. A comparison with transitional cell carcinomas is made, and the use of morphometry in grading the urothelial-like epithelium in malignant Brenner tumors is suggested. High preoperative urinary estrogen, low serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and histologically confirmed atypical endometrial hyperplasia suggested a hyperestrogenism. The reduction in urinary estrogen and the increase in serum LH and FSH after tumor removal and the presence of aromatase activity detected in tumor microsomes confirmed that the tumor was synthesizing estrogen. Estrogen receptors were undetectable both by biochemical and histochemical analysis in the tumor.

Multiple angiomatous proliferations of ileal stoma following Campylobacter enteritis. Effect of laser photocoagulation

Multiple polypoid sessile tumors arose at the tip of the ileal stoma of a 37-year-old man, who previously underwent proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. The lesions developed shortly after a well-established gastrointestinal infection with Campylobacter jejuni with mucosal ulceration. The histological and ultrastructural examination showed angiomatous proliferations, reminiscent of pyogenic granuloma. The destruction of the tumors by laser photocoagulation was followed by superficial ulcerations of the mucosa, which healed without scarring. Small recurrences, however, could not be prevented.

Leiomyoblastoma of the gastric wall

A patient with leiomyoblastoma of the gastric wall is reported. The manifestations of the tumor are described and guidelines for therapy and prognosis are provided, based on a review of literature.