High lifetime risk of cancer in primary sclerosing cholangitis.
OBJECTIVE
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients are at risk for developing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Our aim was to assess the risk of malignancies and their influence on survival.


METHODS
Data from PSC patients diagnosed between 1980 and 2006 in two university hospitals were retrieved. The Kaplan-Meier method and a time-dependent Cox regression model were used to calculate risks of malignancies and their influence on survival.


RESULTS
Two hundred and eleven patients were included, 143 (68%) were male and 126 (60%) had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Median transplantation-free survival was 14 years. The risk of CCA after 10 and 20 years was 9% and 9%, respectively. In patients with concomitant IBD the 10-year and 20-year risks for CRC were 14% and 31%, which was significantly higher than for patients without IBD (2% and 2% (P=0.008)). CCA, cholangitis, and age at entry were independent risk factors for the combined endpoint death or liver transplantation. Risk factors for the endpoint death were CCA, CRC, age, and symptomatic presentation.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PSC and IBD have a high long-term risk of developing CRC and this risk is about threefold higher than the risk for CCA. Both malignancies are associated with decreased survival.
Claessen
Marian M H
MM
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Vleggaar
Frank P
FP
Tytgat
Kristien M A J
KM
Siersema
Peter D
PD
van Buuren
Henk R
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D002648:Child; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000196:embryology*; D015209:Cholangitis, Sclerosing / Q000150:complications*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult