Metachronous colorectal polyps

Abstract

Occur more frequently in patients with carcinoma of the large intestine than in patients without such tumors. 2-~, 7-9 It has also been shown that patients who have had colorectal carcinomas removed have an increased risk of developing subsequent (metachronous) colorectal carcinomas. The risk is higher if the patient has coexisting adenomas of the large intestine, s Such a sequence of events may be explained by a common cause of adenomas and carcinomas, or by development of carcinomas from adenomas. In either case, the cause may be a constitutional disposition, and/or carcinogenic substances present in the contents of the large intestine.iS Although numerous investigations show increased frequencies of colorectal adenomas in patients with carcinomas, there have been only a few reports 4, 10, la, 14, ~6 of increased frequencies of subsequent additional adenomas or carcinomas in patients with