Implications of dysplasia in the prevention of ulcerative colitis-associated colon cancer

摘要

Colorectal cancer is a potentially life-threatening complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with long-standing disease involving large portions of the colon have the highest risk of developing colorectal cancer. There are two basic strategies to prevent colon cancer in patients with IBD - prophylactic total colectomy or serial surveillance colonoscopies with colectomy reserved for those patients with dysplasia detected on random or targeted biopsies. Most patients opt for surveillance in favour of prophylactic colectomy. This chapter will discuss several controversies surrounding the use of surveillance colonoscopy to prevent colorectal cancer-related morbidity and mortality.