Synchronous colorectal neoplasms in ulcerative pancolitis of 6 years duration: pathological and molecular heterogeneity

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Jul 2:2013:bcr2013200172. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-200172.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) complicating ulcerative colitis (UC) accounts for about 1% of all cases of CRC. Such tumours develop from pre-existing foci of dysplasia in patients with extensive and long-standing UC. We report a case of UC-associated synchronous CRC and foci of high-grade dysplasia with an additional malignant focus in the appendix in a female patient after only 6 years of pancolitis who did not have other risk factors for the development of complications. The multiplicity and the timings of the early changes noted suggest that long-standing inflammation in UC randomly damages multiple genes in epithelial cells known to contribute to colorectal carcinogenesis. Current findings also support a molecular and pathological heterogeneity during multiclonal origin of synchronous tumours whereby differences occur at various sites that were absent during the initial stages of the disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / complications
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / complications
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Genetic Heterogeneity*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry