Patterns of care survey data on family history and ulcerative colitis in rectal cancer

Data from a short-term survey on rectal cancer, sponsored by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, were analyzed in order to assess the association between family history of bowel cancer, ulcerative colitis, and rectal cancer. Overall, 7.4% of rectal cancer patients had a positive family history of bowel cancer and 2.5% reported personal history of ulcerative colitis. The association between these two factors was statistically significant. Patients with a positive family history were significantly younger than those without a family history of bowel cancer. Significantly more white patients than black patients had positive family histories. Significantly greater proportions of patients with earlier stage disease and well differentiated tumors were observed among persons with a family history of bowel cancer. No such association was observed among patients with a history of ulcerative colitis.