title: Is early detection of colon cancer possible with red blood cell distribution width?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Red cell distribution width (RDW) is one of the standard parameters with blood cell counts. Much previous research has indicated that it increases in cases of systemic inflammation or cardiametabolic incident. However, information on the relation of RDW with solid tumors causing systemic inflammation is limited. In the present research, we examined the relation of RDW with malignant and benign lesions of the colon.
  
  
  METHODS
  115 patients with colon polyps (group 1), and 30 with colon cancer (group 2) who were diagnosed histopathologically in our clinic between January 2010-January 2013 were scanned retrospectively. Patients with anemia, hematologic diseases and active inflammation were excluded. RDW, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin (Hgb) and platelet (Plt) measurements were recorded and their relations with the malignant and benign lesions of the colon were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were similar in age and gender distribution. RDW values of patients with colon cancer were significantly higher than the patients with colon polyp (p=0,01). No significant differences were detected between the two groups in terms of MCV and Plt values (p>0,05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDW can be used as an early warning biomarker for solid colon tumors. Further prospective research is required on the relations of cheap and easily measured RDW parameters with colon malignancies.
authors: General Surgery, Malazgirt State Hospital, Mus, Turkey E-mail : serdenay@yahoo. com.
authors: Serden
authors: S
authors: Ay
authors: Mehmet Ali
authors: MA
authors: Eryilmaz
authors: Nergis
authors: N
authors: Aksoy
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Okus
authors: Yasar
authors: Y
authors: Unlu
authors: Baris
authors: B
authors: Sevinc
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins