| Theme |
Inflammation and cancer in the lower GI tract |
| Title |
Histopathologic characteristics of ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis |
| Author |
Yoichi Ajioka |
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University |
| Author |
Kaori Watanabe |
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University |
| Author |
Yusuke Tani |
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University |
| Author |
Gen Watanabe |
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University |
| Author |
Takashi Kato |
Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University |
| [ Summary ] |
Compared to colorectal carcinomas not associated with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colorectal carcinomas that invade the submucosa or more deep-seated tissues show higher incidence of undifferentiated histology, and in cases of differentiated histology, infiltrating growth is observed. These histologic characteristics of UC-associated colorectal carcinoma are reflected in their macroscopic appearance. Intramucosal colorectal neoplasms in UC can be classified histologically into the following two groups : those that cannot be distinguished from tumors in the normal colorectum, and those that exhibit unique features (specialized type grouped into five patterns) different from those exhibited by tumors in the normal colorectum. The latter are considered to result from colitis-associated carcinogenesis, and show unique histologic architecture and growth pattern；this is what makes their pathological and endoscopic diagnosis difficult. |