[Relationship between cholecystectomy and the subsequent development of colorectal carcinoma].

In order to clarify the presence or absence of a relationship between cholecystectomy and the subsequent development of colorectal carcinoma, we compared the incidence of previous cholecystectomy in 448 patients with colorectal cancer and in 1627 with gastric cancer, who had been treated in our clinic during the 21 year period through 1963 to 1983. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of previous cholecystectomy between patients with colorectal and gastric cancer. We then performed an historical cohort study covering 461 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for gallstone during the 32 year period from 1949 to 1981 for the subsequent occurrence of carcinoma of the colorectum and stomach. The observed incidence was one in colon cancer and six in gastric cancer, showing a similar proportion of the development of both carcinomas in our district. The present study showed no evidence of cholecystectomy being an increased risk for the development of colorectal carcinoma.