CHICAGO, Mar 5, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers say flat lesions that
can be hard to find during colonoscopy are linked to a higher risk of colorectal
cancer.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said flat,
non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms appear to be relatively common and may be more
likely to develop into cancer compared with the more routinely diagnosed type of
colorectal polyps, the AMA said Wednesday in a news release.
Dr. Roy M. Soetikno and colleagues with the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health
Care System found the non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms were nearly 10 times
more likely to contain cancerous tissue than polypoid lesions.
"Non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms are more difficult to detect by colonoscopy
or computed tomography colonography because the subtle findings can be difficult
to distinguish from those of normal mucosa (membrane)," the study's authors
said. "As compared with surrounding normal mucosa, NP-CRNs appear to be slightly
elevated, completely flat, or slightly depressed."
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