Total Ulcerative Colitis Research Articles

Precancer and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease

The risk of cancer in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increased although it remains low. A clinical subgroup of patients with extensive or total ulcerative colitis and a history of symptoms for more than 10 yr is at greatest risk. In these patients biopsy evidence of epithelial dysplasia has successfully been used as a marker for increased cancer risk. A classification system for dysplasia has recently been devised, consisting of 3 categories: negative, indefinite and positive for dysplasia. The criteria for each category are discussed. For patients at high risk who decline prophylactic colectomy, a cancer surveillance programme involving periodic clinical assessment, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and rectal and colonic biopsies has provided a reasonable alternative.

Chronic pancreatitis in patients with sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis.

In the 4-year period 1980-83 sclerosing cholangitis was demonstrated in 7 out of 151 patients with ulcerative colitis hospitalized in our department. Total ulcerative colitis was demonstrated in all patients with sclerosing cholangitis, whereas abnormal pancreatograms compatible with chronic pancreatitis were seen in four of these patients. According to the criteria of Kasugai, one had minimal, two moderate, and one advanced changes of chronic pancreatitis. Although three of four patients had been treated with drugs known to induce pancreatitis (sulfasalazine and corticosteroids), it is tempting to assume that ulcerative colitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and pancreatitis, when seen in combination, are manifestations of autoimmune diseases with a genetic predisposition. A mechanical mechanism for the development of chronic pancreatitis in sclerosing cholangitis must also be considered.

Survival with carcinoma arising in mucosal ulcerative colitis.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon is a well-recognized complication of total chronic ulcerative colitis. The incidence increases with time, and the carcinoma arising in chronic ulcerative colitis has developed a bad clinical reputation in terms of aggressive behavior. The survival statistics of patients with cancer arising in chronic ulcerative colitis are compared with statistics for a group of noncolitic patients with equivalent clinicopathologic staging treated at the same institution. When grouped by extended Duke's classification and compared with carcinoma arising without ulcerative colitis, there was no statistical difference in survival rates. The overall results are worse because of a higher percentage of patients with incurable disease at the time of operation. With improved surveillance and methods of detecting premalignant changes, the necessity for prophylactic proctocolectomy should decline.

The Clinical Experience of Steroid Suppositories in the Treatment of Idiopathic Proctitis

The clinical experience of both hydrococtisone and prednisolone suppositories in 30 patients with idiopathic proctitis was presented. The main values of steroid suppositories were 1) quick effect, 2) lack of side effect in spite of long-term use and a large amount of dose, and 3) easy management for the patient. They were also useful for controlling recurrent inflammation of the rectal stump after ileo-rectal anastomosis for total ulcerative colitis. From our clinico-pathological study idiopathic proctitis was confirmed to be a type of ulcerative colitis, only difference being a different extent of the disease, as has been already suggested. Early diagnosis and correct treatment with steroid suppositories seemed to be the best way for controlling idiopathic proctitis.

The Pathology of Navicular Disease: Part I.-The Macroscopical Pathological Features of the Disease

In a 15-year surveillance program composed of 72 patients with total ulcerative colitis, 12 patients developed definite dysplasia. At endoscopy, low-grade dysplasia was detected in seven patients, high-grade in four, and a carcinoma (Dukes' stage A at operation) in one. One of the patients with high-grade dysplasia and macroscopical lesions at colonoscopy had a carcinoma (Dukes' A) detected at operation. A sequential development of dysplasia was found in seven patients. The cumulative risk of developing at least low-grade dysplasia was 14% after 25 years of disease duration. Using flow cytometric analyses, abnormal, aneuploid DNA content was detected in biopsies of 12 of 59 patients (20.3%); this correlated significantly with low-grade and high-grade dysplasia. Aneuploidy preceded dysplasia in two patients and was also detected in two dysplasia-free patients. The long-term use of colonoscopic surveillance in ulcerative colitis is a reliable way to select patients, in whom dysplasia is developing, for prophylactic surgery. Additionally, flow cytometric DNA analyses may help in the selection. The risk of missing a carcinoma until it becomes incurable appears to be low.