Adenocarcinoma arising at an ileostomy site: report of a case

A case is reported of a 60-year-old man, who developed an adenocarcinoma in the abdominal wall adjoining an ileostomy. Thirty-one years previously a total colectomy was performed for ulcerative colitis. Because of extensive prolapse the ileostomy was excised 6 years before the final operation, and a fresh part of the ileum, 10 cm proximal to the original stoma, was reimplanted in the abdominal wall at the same location. The pathogenesis of the malignant growth is uncertain; several possibilities as to the course of events at the ileostomy and surrounding skin are discussed.