Polyps and carcinoma of the large bowel in the South African Bantu

Abstract

The South African Bantu has an unusual pattern of disease of the large bowel. for all practical purposes he does not have Crohn's diseaseulcerative colitisor diverticulosis. Cancer of the large bowel is of extremely low frequencyand this series of 96 cases was never associated with adenomatous polyps. in 14,000 autopsiesno adenomatous polyps were found. During a 12‐year period at the Baragwanath Hospital (2,000 beds)only 6 adenomatous polyps were submitted to Surgical Pathology. Low incidence of carcinoma of the large bowel is undoubtedly environmental rather than genetic. in direct contrast to the United Statesthe Bantu has an extremely bulky diet and increased frequency of defecation. Bacterial flora may also be important. Because of these factorswe should be concerned with prevention as well as detection of large bowel cancer.

Intestinal polyps in American negroes and Nigerian africans

“…This is comparable with the experience of others who have reported similar low frequencies from East and South Africa (Templeton, 1973;Bremner and Ackerman, 1970 (Table II). Of possible relevance is the striking disparity between the age adjusted incidence rate in the American negro female for colon cancer which is 23.8/100,000 compared with 0 9, 0-6 and 2-1 in West, East and South African females respectively (Doll et al, 1966(Doll et al, , 1970.…”

The evolution of cancer of the colon and rectum

“…18342 T h e malignancy rate for adenomatous polyps is low (5%) but is much higher for villous adenomas 2256 CANCER December 1975 FK;. 4. Tubulo-villous or villo-glandular adenoma 1 cm in diamrter on a short pcdiclr.…”

Importância da dieta na epidemiologia do câncer de colon e reto

“…Este fato sugere a relação entre a indução do tumor e o contato prolongado entre as fezes e a mucosa intestinal 13 . Pesquisas realizadas enfatizam a raridade de enfermidades do trato intestinal, destacadamente hemorróides, colite ulcerativa, apendicite, diverticulite e câncer de colon e reto, em comunidades rurais Africanas 2,24,31 . Burkitt 5,6 relacionou a presença dessas doenças com o tipo de alimentação das populações e observou que as tribos africanas que consomem dietas ricas em fibra (60 -170 g de fibra da dieta) apresentam baixa incidên-cia da doença.…”