Cancer risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for de veloping cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly colorectal canc er. Because of the relative rarity of IBD in the general population, it has been difficult to quantify this risk. Efforts to reduce the risk have incl uded both prophylactic surgery and endoscopic screening programs. Because o f the potential impact on quality of life and life expectancy the optimal s trategy for reducing this risk has not been defined. This article reviews t he current literature relating to the risk of cancer for patients with IBD and methods to reduce this risk.