CANCERS AMONG PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING DIVERTICULAR-DISEASE OF THE COLON

Objective: To assess the incidence of underlying malignancy in patient s with a diagnosis of diverticular disease of the colon. Design. Retro spective cohort study. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Subjects: 7159 patients discharged from hospital with a first diagnosis of dive rticulosis or diverticulitis in central Sweden 1965-1983. Intervention . The cohort was followed up for two years for the occurrence of cance r. Main outcome measure: Cancer incidence. Results: A total of 372 can cer cases were identified ( standard incidence ratio = 2.4; 95% confid ence interval 2.2 to 2.7). Sites at excess risk during the first year were: colon and rectum, pancreas, prostate, stomach, lymphatic and hae mopoietic tissue, liver and bile ducts, ovary and lung, with the highe st excess risk in the left colon (standard incidence ratio = 17.8; 95% CI 12.7 to 24.1). Conclusion: Malignant diseases, especially colorect al cancer, are relatively common among patients with a clinical diagno sis of diverticulosis or diverticulitis of the colon. This may indicat e a need for a change in current clinical practice.