Gallstones and risk of colonic cancer: a matched case-control study

The aim of the research was to verify the existence of an association between neoplasms in the colon and cholelithiasis, treated surgically or non-surgically. The case-control study was carried out on 109 patients operated on for cancer of the colon, and on 109 control patients operated on for benign pathology. Matching was carried out according to sex, age, region of origin and dietary habits of the patients. Results showed a significant association of cancer of the colon with concomitant cholelithiasis (odds ratio = 2.42) but not with previous cholecystectomy. This correlation was more evident in female patients (odds ratio = 3.2), over 65 years of age (odds ratio = 3.6), with neoplasms in the right colon (odds ratio = 5). Observations suggest cholecystectomy has a protective role as regards an increased risk of cancer of the colon in cholelithiasic patients. A confirmation of this association might also be beneficial in terms of early diagnosis of cancer of the colon, thereby allowing identification of a large population of risk patients to be submitted to monitored screening.