Risk of Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Why Are the Results in the Reviewed Literature So Varied?

Abstract

It is important to know the risk of cancer in inflammatory bowel disease and to know the magnitude of the problem. It then becomes possible to answer some questions on the management of patients. Is it useful to have a surveillance procedure and follow all patients considered at risk of developing cancer? Should prophylactic surgery be recommended for all patients with long-standing extensive disease, and what will be its impact on the quality of life? There is a wide range of reported incidence of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease. This is likely to be due to selection bias and problems with generalization and validity of the results rather than any real differences in the underlying cancer incidence. Rigorous methodologic standards must be used to measure the risk of cancer in inflammatory bowel disease.

Key Words:

• Cancer incidence
• carcinoma
• Crohn's disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• relative risk
• ulcerative colitis