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Hepatology
High prevalence of colorectal neoplasm in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
  1. Vincent Wai-Sun Wong1,2,
  2. Grace Lai-Hung Wong1,2,
  3. Steven Woon-Choy Tsang3,
  4. Tina Fan3,
  5. Winnie Chiu-Wing Chu4,
  6. Jean Woo1,
  7. Anthony Wing-Hung Chan5,
  8. Paul Cheung-Lung Choi5,
  9. Angel Mei-Ling Chim1,2,
  10. James Yun-Wong Lau2,6,
  11. Francis Ka-Leung Chan1,2,
  12. Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung1,2,
  13. Henry Lik-Yuen Chan1,2
  1. 1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  2. 2Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  3. 3Department of Medicine, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong Kong, China
  4. 4Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  5. 5Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  6. 6Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  1. Correspondence to Dr Henry LY Chan, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, 9/F, Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, Hong Kong, China; hlychan{at}cuhk.edu.hk

Abstract

Objective Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 20–40% of the general adult population. Due to shared risk factors, it is postulated that NAFLD patients have an increased risk of colorectal neoplasm and should be a target group for screening. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of colorectal neoplasm in NAFLD patients and the risk of colorectal neoplasm in relation to the severity of NAFLD histology.

Design Cross-sectional study.

Setting University hospital with case recruitment from the community and clinics.

Patients Subjects aged 40–70 years were recruited for colonoscopic screening from two study cohorts: (1) community subjects; and (2) consecutive patients with biopsy proven NAFLD. In the community cohort, hepatic fat was measured by proton-magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Main outcome measures Prevalence of colorectal adenomas. Advanced colorectal neoplasm was defined as cancer or adenomas with villous architecture or high grade dysplasia.

Results NAFLD patients (N=199) had a higher prevalence of colorectal adenomas (34.7% vs 21.5%; p=0.043) and advanced neoplasms (18.6% vs 5.5%; p=0.002) than healthy controls (N=181). Thirteen of 29 (45%) NAFLD patients with advanced neoplasms had isolated lesions in the right sided colon. Among patients with biopsy proven NAFLD, patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (N=49) had a higher prevalence of adenomas (51.0% vs 25.6%; p=0.005) and advanced neoplasms (34.7% vs 14.0%; p=0.011) than those with simple steatosis (N=86). After adjusting for demographic and metabolic factors, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis remained associated with adenomas (adjusted OR 4.89, 95% CI 2.04 to 11.70) and advanced neoplasms (OR 5.34, 95% CI 1.92 to 14.84). In contrast, the prevalence of adenomas and advanced neoplasms was similar between patients with simple steatosis and control subjects.

Conclusions Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with a high prevalence of colorectal adenomas and advanced neoplasms. The adenomas are found more commonly in the right sided colon. Colorectal cancer screening is strongly indicated in this high risk group.

  • Fatty liver
  • colonic polyps
  • colorectal cancer
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • colonic adenomas
  • colonic neoplasms
  • diabetes mellitus
  • fatty liver
  • obesity

https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2011.237974

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    Footnotes

    • See Commentary, p 745

    • Linked articles 239392.

    • Funding The study was supported by a grant from the Health and Health Services Research Fund sponsored by the government of Hong Kong SAR (Reference number 07080081).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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