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Adenomas of the large bowel after cholecystectomy

A case-control study

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Abstract

Cholecystectomy has been reported to be more common in patients with colon cancer. Since adenomas are believed to be precursors of colon cancer, we evaluated the association of cholecystectomy and adenomas in a case-control study. Cases were 244 patients with one or more adenomas who underwent colonoscopy at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital between May 1983 and August 1985. Controls were 281 patients without adenomas. Overall, cholecystectomy was found in 11.9% of cases and 10.3% of controls. White women with adenomas, however, were more likely to have had previous cholecystectomy than controls [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.6]. Although women with adenomas were older and heavier than controls, the elevated odds ratio persisted after adjustment for these factors (OR 1.8; 95% CI 0.8–4.2). No association was observed for men or for nonwhite women. Cholecystectomy may predispose to colon adenomas and to colon cancer in some patients. Alternatively, common risk factors for gallstones, cholecystectomy, and colon cancer may explain the apparent risk of colon cancer or adenomas after cholecystectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, and the Core Center in Diarrheal Diseases, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    Robert S. Sandler MD, MPH, Zack Z. Martin MD, Nancy M. Carlton MPH & Kathy L. Holland BA

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  1. Robert S. Sandler MD, MPH
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  2. Zack Z. Martin MD
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  3. Nancy M. Carlton MPH
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  4. Kathy L. Holland BA
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Additional information

This work was supported in part by a Preventive Oncology Academic Award from the National Cancer Institute K07 CA00722, and by a National Research Service Award AM07463.

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Sandler, R.S., Martin, Z.Z., Carlton, N.M. et al. Adenomas of the large bowel after cholecystectomy. Digest Dis Sci 33, 1178–1184 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535797

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535797

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