title: An evaluation of left sided colonic polyps as a marker for right sided cancers.
abstract: The detection of a left-sided polyp on flexible sigmoidoscopy has been suggested as providing a heralding sign for right-sided tumours. We assessed our own experience with right-sided colonic cancers with reference to detection modality, surgical intervention and their association with left-sided polyps. We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected colorectal cancer database, with endoscopic and radiological records. Patients were subcategorised on the basis of the presence or absence of left-side polyps. Ninety-one consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery for right-sided colonic cancers were studied. Endoscopy was used to detect right-sided carcinomas in 10 (83%) of the 12 cases with synchronous left-sided polyps and radiological imaging utilised in 2 cases. In patients without evidence of left sided disease endoscopy was used in 40 (51%) of the 79 patients. In our experience most right sided cancers do not have a synchronous polyp evident on the left side 79 (87%).
authors.affiliation: Centre For Colorectal Disease, St Vincents University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. ronan@ronanryan.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies