Clinical and pathomorphological findings in patients with colorectal carcinoma complicating ulcerative colitis.

In a retrospective investigation, the clinical and pathomorphological findings of 27 patients (18 men, 9 women) with ulcerative colitis and colorectal carcinoma were analysed. Their average age at the onset of the disease was 32.4 years, the duration of the illness at the time of the diagnosis of carcinoma 12.5 years, and age at the time carcinoma was diagnosed 45.4 years. In 23 patients (85%), total colitis presented. In 15% of the cases, multiple carcinomas developed. Eighty-six percent of the carcinomas were located in the left colon, and 54% of all carcinomas were in the rectosigmoid. Forty-four percent of the carcinomas were primarily diffusely stenosing lesions. Nineteen percent were mucus-producing adenocarcinomas. Eighty-nine percent of the lesions were well or moderately well differentiated. At the time of the diagnosis of carcinoma, 35% of the patients had lymph node or distant metastasis. In 85% of the cases, dysplastic lesions were found in the close and more distant vicinity of the carcinoma.