IS THERE A RELATION SHIP BETWEEN CANCER O F THE COLON AND GALLSTONES

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 co lorectal carcinoma and cholelithiasis. Objective: A retrospective stud y was set up to compare the presence of cholithiasis/cholecystectomy i n patients with colorectal carcinoma vs gastric carcinoma. Patients: I n 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 carcinom a 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, th an in cancer of the left colon and rectum. In the group with gastric c arcinoma the cholelithiasis incidence was 5.6 percent. Conclusions: Th ese findings suggest that a relationship was found more often between colorectal cancer and cholelithiasis, that with cholecystectomy.