Ulcerative colitis Microchapters |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Tarek Nafee, M.D. [2]
Patients with ulcerative colitis require screening for colorectal carcinoma. In patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, the risk of colorectal carcinoma is increased. The American Cancer Society and the American College of Gastroenterology recommend having the initial screening 8 years after the patient is diagnosed with severe disease or when most of, or the entire, large intestine is involved and 12 to 15 years after diagnosis when only the left side of the large intestine is involved.
There is a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis after 10 years if involvement is beyond the splenic flexure. Those with only proctitis or rectosigmoiditis usually have no increased risk.[1] It is recommended that patients have screening colonoscopies with random biopsies to look for dysplasia after eight years of disease activity.[2][3]
Due to the risk of colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis, screening with colonoscopy is recommended. The American Cancer Society recommends the following schedule for colonoscopy:[4]
Have follow-up examinations every 1 - 2 years.
Inadequate evidence exists to recommend routine surveillance of the pouch for dysplasia or adenocarcinoma.