Benign And Malignant Tumours Of The Large Bowels - A Comparison

Abstract

Context: Colorectal cancers are leading cause of cancer death. Most of these cancers however, arise from benign neoplasms which differ widely from the cancers in clinical and histological presentation.
Aim: The aim of this study is to understand the differences in the presentation of benign and malignant tumours of the large bowels.
Method: The study was a 20 year retrospective review of the histological and clinical features of tumours of the large bowels as seen Histopathology Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital Benin City Nigeria.
Results: During the study period, a total of 112 neoplasms of the large bowels were recorded. One hundred and two cases (91%) were malignant with peak incidence in the fifth decade of life while 10 cases (9%) were benign with peak incidence in the second decade of life. Fifty-eight (51.8%) occurred in males and 54 (48.2%) in females. Most cases of colonic benign tumour were left sided while most cases of colonic malignant tumour were right sided. No case of benign tumour presented with Intestinal obstruction, the commonest symptom of malignant tumour, while pain and mass, common symptoms of benign tumours, were uncommon with malignant tumours.
Conclusion: The study reveals interesting contrasts in the presentation of benign and malignant colorectal neoplasms which can be of immense benefit to the clinicians in the diagnosis of these tumours.

Keywords: large bowels; colon; rectum; adenocarcinoma