|
Colon cancer risk and inflammatory bowel disease
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are inflammatory conditions of the intestines. Both are known risk factors for colorectal cancer. A patient's risk of developing colorectal cancer is related to the severity and duration of the disease.
Patients with either condition should undergo colonoscopic surveillance for epithelial dysplasia, a precursor to cancer, at routine intervals. Surveillance should be performed every one to two years in patients who have had either illness for eight to 10 years and annually in those who have been afflicted for more than 15 years.
|