[Is there a relationship between cholelithiasis and colorectal cancer?].

PROBLEM

The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer must be perceived as a complex interaction between the genetic make-up of the individual and the environment. Recent publications stress the association between colorectal carcinoma and cholelithiasis.

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective study was set up to compare the presence of cholelithiasis/cholecystectomy in patients with colorectal carcinoma vs gastric carcinoma.

PATIENTS

In 481 patients with colorectal carcinoma, and in another group of 126 patients with gastric carcinoma, the incidence of prior cholelithiasis/cholecystectomy was investigated.

RESULTS

In the colorectal carcinoma cases a personal history the cholelithiasis was observed more often than cholecystectomy, 88 vs 8 (P < 0.001) patients, and cholelithiasis was more commonly observed in cases of right-sided colonic cancer, than in cancer of the left colon and rectum. In the group with gastric carcinoma the cholelithiasis incidence was 5.6 percent.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that a relationship was found more often between colorectal cancer and cholelithiasis, that with cholecystectomy.