Korean J Med.  2013 Mar;84(3):363-371. 10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.363.

Relationship of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Colorectal Neoplasia

• Lee JY
• Kim JW

• KMID: 1833845
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.363

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Increased echogenicity suggesting NAFLD is a frequent incidental finding on ultrasound examination. This study examined whether NAFLD is related to colorectal neoplasia.
METHODS
We reviewed 1,938 consecutive individuals who underwent screening colonoscopy at Changwon Fatima Hospital between Jan 2009 and Sept 2011. The individuals were divided into adenomatous polyp (Group A; n = 494) and control (Group B; n = 1,444) groups. NAFLD was diagnosed by increased echogenicity on abdominal ultrasound.
RESULTS
The prevalence of NAFLD was 171 (34.6%) in group A and 336 (23.3%) in group B. Compared with normal subjects, group A subjects were more likely to be men, older, and have a higher body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting glucose, uric acid, triglyceride, HbA1c, Hb and gammaGT levels, and a higher prevalence of NAFLD, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, older age (> or = 50 years) (OR 2.051; 95% CI 1.647-2.553), male sex (OR 2.419; 95% CI 1.837-3.184), and prevalence of NAFLD (OR 1.289; 95% CI 1.004-1.655) were associated with an increased risk of adenomatous polyps.
CONCLUSIONS
NAFLD is associated with a high prevalence of colorectal neoplasia. A fatty liver on abdominal ultrasound might predict the development of colorectal adenomatous polyps and cancer.

Keyword

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Colorectal neoplasms; Early detection of cancer

MeSH Terms

Adenomatous Polyps
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Colonoscopy
Colorectal Neoplasms
Diabetes Mellitus
Early Detection of Cancer
Fasting
Fatty Liver
Glucose
Humans
Hypertension
Incidental Findings
Logistic Models
Male
Mass Screening
Prevalence
Uric Acid
Waist Circumference
Fatty Liver
Glucose
Uric Acid