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Malignancy in adult celiac disease
1Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology), University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. hugfree@shaw.ca
World Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 3, 2009
Summary
Celiac disease may increase the risk of certain cancers like lymphoma and small intestinal adenocarcinoma. However, it appears to limit the risk of other gastrointestinal cancers, including colon cancer.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Oncology
Background:
- Celiac disease is associated with an increased incidence of certain neoplastic disorders.
- Previous UK studies suggested a link between celiac disease and esophageal carcinoma, but this finding lacked North American confirmation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between celiac disease and the risk of various gastrointestinal cancers.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and epidemiological data on celiac disease and cancer incidence.
Main Results:
- Malignant lymphoma and small intestinal adenocarcinoma incidence are elevated in celiac disease patients.
- Gastric and colon cancer risks do not appear significantly increased in celiac disease.
- Esophageal carcinoma link is inconsistent across different geographical regions.
Conclusions:
- Celiac disease is linked to specific cancers, but not broadly to all gastrointestinal malignancies.
- Untreated celiac disease might offer a protective effect against colon cancer, potentially due to malabsorption of carcinogens.
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