Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
Malignancies in inflammatory bowel disease: fact or fiction?
R A van Hogezand1, R F Eichhorn, A Choudry
1Dept. of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. R.A.vanHogezand@LUMC.NL
Background:
The association between ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn disease (CD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) has been confirmed in several studies. The aim of this study was critical analysis of the relation between IBD and malignancy.
Methods:
Review of the literature.
Results:
In UC, the extent of the disease, its duration and start at a young age are risk factors for the development of CRC. Primary sclerosing cholangitis and colonic strictures are additional risk factors for development of CRC. The relation between azathioprine or 6-MP and the development of lymphomas is a subject of debate. The administration of anti-TNF-alpha has produced some concern about the development of lymphomas in CD. However, at present there is no evidence of lymphomas caused by anti-TNF-alpha in CD. On the contrary, some drugs seem to have a preventive effect on CRC development in UC. 5-aminosalicylic acid in particular and to a lesser extent sulphasalazine have prevented the development of CRC significantly in retrospective studies. In CD, there is no strong relationship between the disease and the development of CRC or other malignancies. Only the development of small-bowel carcinoma is reported with a much higher frequency.
Conclusions:
There is a correlation with UC and the development of CRC. For CD, this correlation is less firmly established. There is a possible, but not proven, relation between AZA/6-MP use and the development of lymphoma in IBD. There is also a probable relationship between CD and the development of small-bowel carcinoma. In some retrospective studies, the use of 5-aminosalicylic or sulphasalazine has been shown to prevent the development of CRC in UC.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction

