Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma: causes, symptoms, treatment methods and predictions

Sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor that is formed from the glandular cells of the colon of the large intestine. In the sigmoid colon, stool masses form. That is why it is important to use daily food products that promote stimulation of peristalsis. If a person has constipation, the stool masses press on the walls of the sigmoid colon, which leads to a violation of blood circulation. In addition, the proliferation of epithelial cells is possible because of the carcinogenic substances that are contained in stool. It is these substances that play an important role in the origin of malignant neoplasm cells.

What is the sigmoid colon?

The human intestine is divided into two sections: thin and thick. The department of the large intestine got its name due to a large lumen. The intestines of this department envelop the small intestine.

The division of the large intestine is divided into several sections:

• blind;
• Colonic;
• straight.

The blind section of the intestine has a process called appendix. Sigmoid colon refers to the thick part of the thick part. Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon is more common than malignant tumors of other intestines. A tumor is a malignant renaissance of cells, which consist entirely of glandular epithelium. That's why the disease is often called glandular cancer.

Sigmoid colon is the final stage of the intestine, where the absorption of water from the body ends, this is where the feces occur.

The intestine itself is a c-shaped region, if nutrition is malformed, with lack of mineral and nutrients, stool stagnation occurs in this area. This contributes to the violation of blood circulation.

Reduction of peristalsis can be caused by a number of various diseases of different etiology. In addition, the development of stagnant stool is possible with atony or a complete absence of peristalsis. As a rule, atony can be caused by the age of the patient. Reduced peristalsis is also possible after the transfer of various kinds of operations, after childbirth, with hypodynamia. It is the period when the human body experiences a strong shake, as a rule, at the same time there is a hormonal failure.

Nuances of the disease course

Adenocarcinoma is one of the most serious diseases in terms of clinical manifestation and subsequent therapy. Since the outcome often leads to death. Lethal outcome is possible due to metastases that have spread throughout the body, began to actively grow and develop. The prognosis is explained by the fact that at an early stage the disease proceeds with similar symptoms, as in the case of digestive disorders. A person tries to be treated by means of alternative medicine, nevertheless the tumor is constantly growing and developing. And only after some time, when the disease is already started, the patient turns to a consultation with an oncologist.

And one more 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 to the examination to a specialist. That is why the diagnosis of a malignant tumor is not timely. But the patient should understand: the smaller the tumor, the sooner the diagnosis has occurred, the sooner it is possible to begin therapy. As a consequence: the outcome will be favorable, up to full recovery.

Classification

Adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon is divided into several species. Each of them has its own characteristics. Types of tumors:

1. Low-differentiated, it usually has a lightning, instantaneous course of flow. This kind of treatable really hard, the forecast in most cases is unfavorable.
2. Moderate adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. For this type of forecasts are optimistic enough.
3. Highly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon, this type of tumors can be treated with medicamentous manipulations.

Depending on how quickly a malignant tumor grows and develops, several stages of growth are distinguished:

1. Exophytic, with the growth of malignant cells only in the lumen of the sigmoid colon. This contributes to the narrowing of the lumen, as a result: frequent constipation and obstructed patency of stool.
2. Endophytic, at this stage of growth, pathogenic cells enter the intestinal wall.

Stages of the disease

An important factor in diagnosing is the difference in the tumor in terms of manifestation and stages. Types of tumors in stages:

1. The first stage begins to affect the mucous membranes of the intestine. A major disadvantage in diagnosing is the asymptomatic development of pathology.
2. In the second stage, malignant cells gradually begin to fill the muscle shell. In this case, a person has a digestive disorder. And already at the second stage, experts note the growth of adenocarcinoma to 5 cm.
3. The third stage promotes penetration of malignant cells into all layers of the thick intestine. At the third stage, metastasis does not yet develop.
4. 4th stage, or advanced adenocarcinoma. This manifestation of the disease in the absence of timely diagnosis, medical assistance from specialists. In this case, metastasis develops in other organs. The forecast is usually unfavorable.

Causes

The causes of the oncological disease are numerous and diverse. Most importantly, they are all unpredictable. Modern medicine is not able to specifically determine the causes of adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. It is possible to distribute the causes that cause the development of an oncological disease, into several groups. These are the following factors:

1. Disturbance of nutrition. Many doctors believe that malnutrition is the main cause of the development of processes that contribute to cancerous tumors. Especially food with harmful products containing a large number of carcinogens, animal fat, fatty acids.
2. 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 the timely therapy, the more the risk of malignant cells increases.
3. Polyps. Oncologically, intestinal polyps are a predisposing factor in the development of malignant process.
4. Genetic factor.
5. Pernicious habits.
6. Radiation is one of the leading causes of bowel adenocarcinoma.

Diagnostics

To identify and diagnose the disease specialist suggests referring to several methods of research, as an addition to the delivery of blood tests, feces and urine:

1. Ultrasound diagnosis helps visualize neoplasms, but does not reveal the cause of development.
2. X-rays with contrast, while the specialist looks at the degree of overlap of the sigmoid colon.
3. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging. Helps to detect the presence of a malignant tumor, marks its origin.
4. Fibrocolonoscopy. Study of the thick intestine with the use of a special device - 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 onset.

Symptomatics

At the initial stage of tumor development, the course of the disease is asymptomatic. That is why timely diagnosis and detection of neoplasm is problematic.

The first manifestations may be digestive disorders: stomach pains, constipation, bloating. These signs the patient can be confused with the usual digestive disorder, which is why the patient postpones the trip to the doctor at this stage. Stamina during examination is due to the location of the sigmoid colon. Symptoms do not appear in the early stages.

With the growth and development of a malignant tumor, clinical manifestations of the disease become more diverse. The patient notes:

1. Pain in the left side. Gradually, the pain becomes permanent, this is a clear sign of going to the doctor.
2. Nausea and vomiting.
3. Bloating.
4. Diarrhea or constipation. When the stage is started, constipation predominates, this is due to the overlap of the lumen of the sigmoid colon.
5. Impurities in feces: blood, purulent discharge and mucus.

General clinical manifestations

Common characteristic clinical manifestations of adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon are weakness, rapid weight loss, in some patients anemia develops due to bleeding of the tumor.

A big problem is that the inflammatory process that develops in the cavity does resemble that of the sigmoid colon. That is why the clinical manifestations may be erroneous diagnosis.

At the stage of metastasis, metastases go through the body along the vessels, spreading over the surface. The first places of growth of malignant cells, diagnosed by a physician, are in the lymph nodes, only after this begins infection of the parenchymal organs. The main lesion falls on the liver.

The defeat of the liver is manifested by jaundice, a bitter taste in the mouth. A specialist can palpate metastases. Also there are metastases during MRI, ultrasound.

Treatment

The most effective and positive therapeutic effect can be achieved during the therapy of the first and second stage of the disease. The effect is achieved due to surgical intervention. Surgeons make removal of adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon.

Methods of surgical intervention go through several stages:

• During the first stage, there is complete removal of the tumor with a small interval of the sigmoid colon. Doctors suppose that for an effective result of therapy it is necessary to remove more than 15 cm of the intestine, which is below the tumor and a half-meter above. If there is no obstruction, the ends can be sewn together. If there is an obstruction of the intestines, the lower end of the intestine is removed to the abdominal wall so that the feces can be excreted into a special collection bag.

• In this condition, patients spend several months. After this, repeated intervention is performed, this is done to completely restore the normal operation of the gastrointestinal tract and the permeability of the intestines. Repeated intervention is not possible in all cases.
• Chemotherapy is possible after the first intervention of surgeons. It is done to prevent the recurrence of the disease. After the course of chemotherapy, it is possible to perform a repeat operation.
• Irradiation as treatment of the sigmoid colon is possible instead of chemotherapy.
• To reduce pain, a person is prescribed narcotic drugs. If the stage of the disease is neglected, the forecast is unfavorable, then prescription of narcotic analgesics is possible. Reception of strong narcological drugs can not be permanent, there should be an exposure before reception in some hours. Usual analgesics do not stop the pain.

Treatment of the sigmoid colon requires timely medication. If you perform surgery at the first and early stages of the development of pathology, the complete removal of the neoplasm promotes complete cure of the patient. If the stage of the disease is started, the patient ignored the visit to the medical institution for the diagnosis of the disease, if the metastatic stage has gone, then the prognosis of the disease is unfavorable. Metastases can not 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, surgery was performed on time, then it is possible to fully expect a complete cure for adenocarcinoma. Survival in patients is noted in more than half the cases. Considering that most surgical operations are performed in elderly patients, this is the best result.

conclusions

If there are the slightest suppositions on adenocarcinoma, a digestive disorder is constantly observed, it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist for diagnosing the disease or completely excluding it. Timely treatment and prevention will help prolong the patient's life and significantly improve its quality.

A delicate place of inspection can not please patients, instead, there is a lack of restraint. Everyone should understand that a doctor is an expert who tries to help, and embarrassment here is inappropriate. One idea that timely diagnosis of neoplasm development can prolong life should be the main criterion before going to a specialist.