Breast cancer and polyps of the colon. A case-control study

A case-control study was conducted involving 145 patients with breast cancer and 144 controls. A pansigmoidoscopy was performed in each case and control. There was no statistically significant difference in the length of the colon explored (cases, 50.3 cm; controls, 48.9). The odds ratio for adenomatous polyps was 2.65 (confidence limits, 1.56 and 3.74). As adenomas of the colon can be considered as precursors of colon cancer, this study demonstrates new evidence of the close relationship between breast and colon cancer. These results show the usefulness of performing a pansigmoidoscopy in all breast cancer patients and, if positive, the removal of all of the polyps through the colonoscope.