Six percent of colorectal cancer found to be interval tumors


(HealthDay)—Six percent of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have interval cancers, which develop within six to 60 months of colonoscopy, according to a study published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.

N. Jewel Samadder, M.D., from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and colleagues examined the proportion, characteristics, and factors that predict interval CRCs in a population-based study of Utah residents. Participants included 126,851 individuals who underwent colonoscopy examinations from 1995 through 2009. Colonoscopy results were linked with cancer histories to identify patients who underwent colonoscopy six to 60 months before CRC diagnosis.

The researchers identified 2,659 diagnoses of CRC, of which 6 percent developed within six to 60 months of colonoscopy. There was no correlation between sex and age and interval CRCs. Compared with patients found to have CRC detected at colonoscopy or patients who did not develop cancer, a higher percentage of patients with interval CRC had adenomas at their index colonoscopy (57.2 versus 36 and 26 percent, respectively; P patients with interval CRC were more likely to have family history of CRC (odds ratio, 2.27; P = 0.008) and had a lower risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.63; P

“These findings indicate that interval colorectal tumors may arise as the result of distinct biologic features and/or suboptimal management of polyps at colonoscopy,” the authors write.

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the biotechnology and medical device industries.

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Gastroenterology