Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor that is formed from the glandular cells of the colon. In the sigmoid colon, feces are formed. That is why it is important to use daily food products that contribute to the stimulation of peristalsis. If a person has constipation, then feces are pressed on the walls of the sigmoid colon, which leads to circulatory disorders. In addition, the proliferation of epithelial cells is possible due to carcinogens that are found in feces. It is these substances that play an important role in the origin of cancer cells.
What is the sigmoid colon?
The human intestine is divided into two sections: thin and thick. The large intestine department got its name due to the large lumen. The intestines of this department envelop the small intestine.
The large intestine is divided into several sections:
The blind section of the intestine has a process called the appendix. The sigmoid colon belongs to the colon of the colon. Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma is more common than malignant tumors of other intestines. A tumor is a malignant regeneration of cells that are completely composed of glandular epithelium. That is why the disease is often called glandular cancer.
The sigmoid colon is the final stage of the intestine, where the absorption of water from the body ends, it is here that the formation of feces occurs.
The intestine itself is a c-shaped area, if it is not eaten correctly, with a lack of mineral and nutrients, stool stagnation occurs in this area. This contributes to the violation of blood circulation.
A decrease in peristalsis can be caused by a number of various diseases of various etiologies. In addition, the development of stagnation of feces is possible with atony or complete absence of peristalsis. As a rule, atony can be caused by the age of the patient. Reduced peristalsis is also possible after undergoing various kinds of operations, after childbirth, with physical inactivity. It is the period when the human body is experiencing a strong shake, as a rule, while there is a hormonal malfunction.
The nuances of the course of the disease
Adenocarcinoma is one of the most serious diseases in terms of clinical manifestations and subsequent therapy. Since the outcome often leads to death. A lethal outcome is possible due to metastases that spread throughout the body, began to actively grow and develop. The prognosis is due to the fact that at an early stage, the disease proceeds with similar symptoms, as with digestive upset. A person is trying to be treated with alternative medicine, nevertheless, the tumor is constantly growing and developing. And only after some time, when the disease is already running, the patient turns to the oncologist for a consultation.
And another nuance is the delicacy of the problem. Clinical symptomatology involves examination of the anus and rectum, the patient is simply shy and does not want to go for an examination to a specialist. That is why the diagnosis of a malignant tumor is untimely. But the patient must understand: the smaller the tumor, the earlier the diagnosis took place, the sooner it is possible to start therapy. As a result: the outcome will be favorable, up to a full recovery.
Classification
Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma is divided into several types. Each of them has its own characteristics. Types of tumors:
- Low-grade, it usually has a lightning, instantaneous flow. This type of treatment is really difficult, the prognosis in most cases is unfavorable.
- Moderate adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. Forecasts for this type are quite optimistic.
- Highly differentiated sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma, this type of tumor can be treated well with medical procedures.
Depending on how quickly a malignant tumor grows and develops, several stages of growth are distinguished:
- Exophytic, with the growth of malignant cells observed only in the lumen of the sigmoid colon. This contributes to narrowing of the lumen, as a result: frequent constipation and obstructed patency of feces.
- Endophytic, at this stage of growth, pathogenic cells penetrate the intestinal wall.
Stages of the disease
An important factor in the diagnosis is the difference in tumor forms and stages. Types of tumors by stages:
- The first stage begins to affect the intestinal mucosa. A big minus in the diagnosis is the asymptomatic development of pathology.
- In the second stage, malignant cells gradually begin to fill the muscle membrane. In this case, a person has an indigestion. And already in the second stage, experts note the growth of adenocarcinoma up to 5 cm.
- Stage 3 promotes the penetration of malignant cells into all layers of the large intestine. In the third stage, metastasis does not yet develop.
- 4th stage, or advanced adenocarcinoma. This is a manifestation of the disease in the absence of timely diagnosis, medical assistance from specialists. In this case, metastasis develops in other organs. The prognosis is usually poor.
Causes
The causes of cancer are numerous and varied. Most importantly, they are all unpredictable. Modern medicine is not able to specifically determine the causes of sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma. You can distribute the causes that cause the development of cancer, into several groups. These are the following factors:
- Malnutrition. Many doctors believe that malnutrition is the main cause of the development of processes that contribute to cancerous tumors. Especially eating harmful foods containing a large number of carcinogens, animal fats, fatty acids.
- Inflammatory processes of the large intestine. The most dangerous disease for the body is ulcerative colitis. Often, this disease is a predisposing criterion for the subsequent development of cancer. The longer the disease is, ignoring timely therapy, the greater the risk of developing malignant cells.
- Polyps. Oncological terms, intestinal polyps are a predisposing factor in the development of the malignant process.
- Genetic factor.
- Bad habits.
- Radiation is one of the leading causes of bowel adenocarcinoma.
Diagnostics
To identify and diagnose the disease, the specialist suggests referring to several research methods, as an addition to taking blood, feces and urine tests:
- Ultrasound diagnostics help visualize neoplasms, but do not identify the cause of development.
- An x-ray with contrast, while the specialist looks at the degree of overlap of the sigmoid colon.
- MRI or magnetic resonance imaging. Helps detect the presence of a malignant tumor, notes its origin.
- Fibrocolonoscopy The study of the large intestine using a special apparatus - a probe. In this case, the specialist can accurately note the size of the tumor, assess the degree of narrowing of the intestinal lumen, determine the cause of the occurrence.
Symptomatology
At the initial stage of tumor development, the course of the disease is asymptomatic. That is why timely diagnosis and detection of neoplasms is problematic.
The first manifestations may be digestive disorders: abdominal pain, constipation, bloating. The patient may confuse these signs with the usual digestive upset, which is why at this stage the patient postpones the trip to the doctor. The constraint during the examination is due to where the sigmoid colon is located. Symptoms in the early stages are not manifested.
As the malignant tumor grows and develops, the clinical manifestations of the disease become more diverse. The patient notes:
- Pain in the left half. Gradually, the pain becomes enduring, this is a clear sign of contacting a doctor.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Bloating.
- Diarrhea or constipation. With the advanced stage, constipation predominates, this is due to the overlap of the lumen of the sigmoid colon.
- Impurities in feces: blood, purulent discharge and mucus.
General clinical manifestations
Common characteristic clinical manifestations of sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma are weakness, rapid weight loss, in some patients anemia develops due to tumor bleeding.
The big problem is that the inflammatory process that develops in the cavity, really resembles cancer of the sigmoid colon. That is why, due to clinical manifestations, erroneous diagnosis is possible.
At the stage of metastasis, metastases go through the body through the vessels, spread along the surface. The first places of growth of malignant cells that the doctor diagnoses are in the lymph nodes, only after this the infection of the parenchymal organs begins. The main lesion is in the liver.
Damage to the liver is manifested by jaundice, a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. The specialist can palpate metastases by palpation. Metastases during MRI and ultrasound are also noted.
Treatment
The most effective and positive therapeutic effect can be achieved during treatment of the first and second stages of the disease. The effect is achieved due to surgical intervention. Surgeons remove a sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma.
Surgical methods go through several stages:
- During the first stage, the tumor is completely removed with a small interval of the sigmoid colon. Doctors suggest that for an effective treatment result it is necessary to remove more than 15 cm of the intestine, which is below the tumor and half a meter above. If obstruction was absent, then the ends can be sewn together. If obstruction of the intestines was noted, then the lower end of the intestine is displayed on the abdominal wall so that feces can be removed in a special collection bag.
- In this condition, patients spend several months. After this, a second intervention is performed, this is done to completely restore the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and intestinal patency. Repeated intervention is not possible in all cases.
- Chemotherapy is possible after the first intervention of surgeons. It is done to prevent relapse of the disease. After a course of chemotherapy, a second operation is possible.
- Irradiation as a treatment for the sigmoid colon is possible instead of chemotherapy.
- To reduce pain, people are prescribed drugs. If the stage of the disease is neglected, the prognosis is poor, then prescription of narcotic analgesics is possible. Reception of strong narcological drugs cannot be constant, there must be an endurance before reception in several hours. Conventional analgesics do not stop the pain.
Treatment of the sigmoid colon requires timely medical attention. If an operation is performed at the first and early stages of the development of pathology, then the complete removal of the neoplasm contributes to the complete cure of the patient. If the stage of the disease is started, the patient ignored a visit to a medical institution to diagnose the disease, if the stage of metastasis has gone, then the prognosis of the disease is poor. Metastases cannot be removed by surgery.
Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma: predictions
It can be noted that the prognosis of tumor treatment is conditionally favorable. If the disease was diagnosed in a timely manner, the operation was performed on time, then you can fully count on a complete cure for adenocarcinoma. Survival in patients is noted in more than half of cases. Given that most surgical operations are performed for elderly patients, these are the best results.
conclusions
If there is the slightest suggestion of adenocarcinoma, an indigestion is constantly noted, it is urgent to consult a specialist to diagnose the disease or its complete elimination. Timely treatment and prevention will help prolong the patient's life and significantly improve its quality.
A delicate examination site cannot please patients; instead, constraint is noted. Everyone should understand that a doctor is a specialist who is trying to help, and shyness is inappropriate here. One thought that timely diagnosis of neoplasm development can extend life should be the main criterion before going to a specialist.