Abstract
In a recent 6-year period we have treated five patients with villous adenoma of the colon. This paper describes a discussion of the association of this condition with cancer of the colon and its therapeutic guideline.
It was found three (60%) out of these five patients with villous adenoma were complicated by cancer of the colon. Three (0.9%) out of 349 patients with cancer of the colon who had undergone surgery were diagnosed as having villous adenoma. The main signs and symptoms of this condition included prolapse of the tumour mass from the anal annulus, dysfunction of bowel movement, and secretion of mucous. The guideline for surgical treatment was to keep the area of excision localized so as to avoid excessive surgical invasion.
The villous adenoma and the cancerous tissue were excised en block followed by a perioperative pathological diagnosis. It was concluded that this degree of excision might be adequate if the tumour invasion was retained within mucosal layer.
We hope to treat a further number of such patients, therefore be able to provide an adequate postoperative follow-up and establish more appropriate therapeutic guidelines.
