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Identical twins discordant for ulcerative colitis with colon cancer

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Sumary

A 22-year-old patient with a 16-year history of ulcerative colitis who developed multifocal anaplastic colon cancer is presented. His identical twin, proven by blood type, HL-A, and fingerprint analyses, has been completely asymptomatic. This report suggests that ulcerative colitis results from a polygenic predisposition without full penetrance. Subsequent development of colon cancer seems more likely related to the inflammatory disease than an independent genetic determinant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York

    William Bisordi MD &  Charles J. Lightdale MD (the recipient of an American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Fellowship Award)

  2. the Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York

    William Bisordi MD &  Charles J. Lightdale MD (the recipient of an American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Fellowship Award)

Authors
  1. William Bisordi MD
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  2. Charles J. Lightdale MD
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Bisordi, W., Lightdale, C.J. Identical twins discordant for ulcerative colitis with colon cancer. Digest Dis Sci 21, 71–73 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074142

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01074142

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