Skin tags--a marker for colon polyps?

The frequency of colorectal cancer increased during the first half of the twentieth century, but for the last four decades, it appears to have stabilized. Today, the average American has a 5 percent probability of developing colorectal cancer during a 70-year life span. The majority of cases occur in persons aged greater than 50 years; the incidence increases up to age 75 years, after which there is a decline. Etiology is unknown; however, environment, genetics, and carcinogens have been implicated. Genetic relations of skin tags, colon polyps, and colon cancer are a matter of ongoing research. If such relations could be established, it could provide clinicians with a possible additional marker for persons at increased risk of colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma. Two cases are presented with a brief review of the literature.