Environmental and other risk factors for colorectal carcinogenesis.

Diet plays a role in the risk of colon cancer, but exactly how it affects risk is unknown. In western countries diet is low in fibre and high in animal protein, fats and refined carbohydrates such as sugar. Risk seems to be reduced by a diet high in calcium, vitamin D and vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli.

Serum concentrations of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with colorectal cancer. Clinical implications.

Background: In colorectal cancer (CRC), serum levels of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 increase with progressing disease. Our aim was to investigate the effect of treatment in serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.

Methods: Serum levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were determined in 154 patients with CRC.

A case of mucinous adenocarcinoma arising in long-standing multiple perianal and presacral fistulas.

Chronic anal fistulas are not rare; however, the development of a carcinoma in long-standing, perianal fistulas is rare. We describe a case of an 85-year-old man with multiple, recurring, perianal fistulas, extending to the natal cleft. The patient underwent en bloc resection of the fistulas which were in direct continuity with the middle rectum.

Metachronous breast carcinoma (second malignancy), following "cure" from colorectal carcinoma.

Metachronous or synchronous breast carcinoma following or co-existing with colorectal carcinoma are well recognised clinicopathological entities, and the risk of developing both possibly underlines the similarities in carcinogenesis pathways for these carcinomas. We present a 60-year-old housewife with a history of a treated primary colon carcinoma (Duke's C) 15 years previously. Six months ago, during the follow-up care a small sub-areolar lesion was determined in a mammogram.

Spontaneous rupture of the rectosigmoid with small bowel evisceration through the anus.

Spontaneous rupture of the rectosigmoid with small bowel evisceration through the anus is a rare and acute condition of the gastrointestinal tract. After Brodie's first description, only 52 such cases have been reported in the literature. An 83-year-old woman experienced a sudden, spontaneous rectosigmoid rupture and protrusion of small bowel loops, through the ruptured colon and out of the anus.