Relationship between cholecystectomy and colonic cancer in low-risk Japanese population. A preliminary study.

The relationship between colonic cancer and previous cholecystectomy was investigated in 90 Japanese patients treated surgically for colonic cancer during the period of 1971 to 1980. The patients were in an area where the inhabitants are considered to be at low risk for colonic cancer. The patients were matched for sex and age with other patients having gastric cancer or other digestive organ diseases. The results showed that previous cholecystectomy was prevalent, but the difference was not statistically significant, in the group of colonic cancer patients, compared with the groups of rectal cancer patients and matched controls. A positive association between the proximal colonic cancer and previous cholecystectomy, and between distal colonic cancer and asymptomatic gallstones found concomitantly with the cancer, was noted in the present study. To clarify the relationship between colonic cancer, and cholecystectomy and gallstones, further study of a large number of colonic cancer patients and a prospective study of the incidence of colonic cancer after cholecystectomy are proposed.