Relationship between Cholecystectomy and Colon Cancer

Eun, Chang Soo; Hahm, Joon Soo; Kim, Ki Chan; Cho, Yoon Joo; Jun, Yong Chul; Lee, Oh Young; Han, Dong Soo; Sohn, Joo Hyun; Choi, Ho Soon; Yoon, Byoeng Chul; Lee, Min Ho; Lee, Dong Hoo; Kee, Choon Suhk; Park, Kyung Nam

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been suggested that cholecystectomy can be related with the developmen of colon cancer and altered bile acid metabolism after cholecystectomy may be an important facto in the carcinogenesis. Thus, we have conducted a retrospective case-control study to clarify the relationship between cholecystectomy and subsequent development of colon cancer.
METHODS
We compared the incidence of previous cholecystectomy in 424 patients with colon cancer who had treated in our clinic during the period of 1983 to 1997 and in 424 age- and sex-matched controls
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in a prevalence of cholecystectomy and gallstones between colon cancer patients and controls (Cholecystectomy: odds ratio=1.17, 95% confidence interval=0.39-3.51; Gallstone: odds ratio=1.27, 95% confidence interval=0.73-2.21). The prevalence of cholecystectomy and gallstones was a little high in right-sided colon cancer group, but there was no statistically significant difference between right and left colon.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that there was no statistically significant association between cholecystectomy and colon cancer. To clarify whether colon cancer is associated with cholecystectomy or gallstones, further study with large sample size and a prospective study of the incidence of colon cancer afte cholecystectomy are proposed.