Radiological findings in carcinoma of the colon complicating chronic ulcerative colitis.

Circulating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA): Relationship to clinical status of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

“…The present data confirm our earlier finding ) that the incidence of CEA positivity was the same in both ulcerative and granulomatous bowel disease, even though ulcerative colitis is considered to carry the higher cancer risk (Fennessy et al, 1968;Devroede et al, 1971;Truelove, 1971). We have also found that CEA levels are higher earlier in the disease, whereas the cancer risk increases later.…”

“…We therefore began a long-term study of patients with chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract at high risk for cancer of the colon (Fennessy, Sparberg, and Kirsner, 1968;Devroede, Taylor, Sauer, Jackman, and Stickler, 1971;Truelove, 1971 The relationship of severity of disease to the presence of circulating CEA is shown in tables J1 and III. Patients who were in remission or had mild symptoms at the time of bleeding had similar CEA positivity in both disease categories.…”

“…We therefore began a long-term study of patients with chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract at high risk for cancer of the colon (Fennessy, Sparberg, and Kirsner, 1968;Devroede, Taylor, Sauer, Jackman, and Stickler, 1971;Truelove, 1971). Plasma CEA levels in 112 patients with ulcerative or granulomatous disease were related to their age and surgical status as well as to the duration, severity, extent, and type of disease of the patients.…”

Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…7 of 13 pa tients with severe dysplasia produced 4 can cers each with disease duration of less than 2 years. However, a consistently excellent pathologic evaluation is difficult to obtain and because of this it is unlikely that this method will make a major impact on overall detection and mortality rates of ulcerative colitis cancer [57], This method has not proven to be of value in Crohn's disease, and is being evaluated at the present time.…”

“…Factors which make cancer detec tion in inflammatory bowel disease difficult include 'invisibility', confusion of symptoms of the cancer with those of the inflammatory bowel disease, the earlier belief that there was no increased incidence of cancer in Crohn's disease, and the occurrence of cancer in blind loops, inaccessible to radiologic or endoscopic examination. The clinical features which may be of value in the detection of cancer in inflam matory bowel disease included development of a mass, weight loss, new fistula formation, or reactivation of disease especially after a long quiescent interval [ 18], In 1968, Fennessy and Sparberg [57] were unable to make a positive radiologic diagno- Fig. 3.…”