Cancer of the large bowel after cholecystectomy

The possibility that cholecystectomy may increase the risk of developing cancer of the large bowel has been a matter of concern for several years. The association has biological plausibility because of the effects of cholecystectomy on the formation of secondary bile acids. Recent evidence, however, suggests that the association is absent or weak. This underlines the recommendation that biological explanations should not be relied upon too heavily when considering epidemiological associations.