Is cervical cancer a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia? Prevalence of colorectal adenoma in Korean patients with cervical cancer

Background/Aims: The relationship between colorectal neoplasia and cervical cancer has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of colorectal adenoma in patients with cervical cancer and compare it with that of control subjects. Methodology: Between January 2005 and December 2009, the medical records of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Patients undergoing sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy for the preoperative evaluation of the colon were enrolled in this study. Age-matched female healthy subjects who underwent colonoscopy for screening purposes were included as control subjects. We compared demographic and clinicopathological characteristics between the groups. Results: Overall, 285 patients with cervical cancer and 284 healthy subjects were included (age, 56.93±11.92 vs. 56.10±9.31 years). The mean body weight, body mass index (BMI), the incidence of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose were not statistically different between the 2 groups. The prevalence of colorectal adenoma was not different between the patient and control groups, regardless of examination extent. Multivariate analysis showed that age and BMI were significant independent risk factors for colorectal adenomatous polyps (age, p<0.001; BMI, p=0.002). Conclusion: There might not be any significant association between cervical cancer and colorectal adenomatous polyps.