Hereditary factors are unlikely behind unusual pattern of early - Onset colorectal cancer in Egyptians: A study of family history and pathology features in Egyptians with large bowel cancer (cross-sectional study).

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer in Egypt has a higher incidence in young patients compared to western countries, where the disease is more prevalent in the old age group. This difference has been attributed to higher incidence of hereditary cancers in young Egyptian patients. The aim of this study is to compare the family history criteria and pathology features of tumors in young (≤40 years) and old (>40 years) Egyptian patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is the analysis of our prospectively collected data on the pathology features of tumors in 313 consecutive patients (133 young, 180 old) with colorectal cancer presenting to the Department of Surgery within an eight-year period. A detailed family history was obtained from 258 patients (112 young, 146 old). RESULTS: 41 young and 48 old patients reported family history of cancer, the difference was not statistically significant. Ten young patients (9%) reported a family history of colorectal cancer in a first degree relative (3 fitting into Amsterdam criteria, 7 fitting into less strict criteria) which was not significantly different from the old age group. The pathologic features of tumors in both groups resembled sporadic rather than hereditary cancer and there was no significant difference between groups in tumor location, degree of differentiation, mucin production, synchronous and metachronous colorectal tumors or polyps and grossly stricturing or ulcerating tumors. Extracolonic tumors developed in one young and two old patients. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of large bowel cancer in young Egyptian patients do not differ significantly from those in older patients. Despite the high incidence of large bowel cancer in young Egyptian patients, family history and pathologic features of tumors do not support a hereditary origin of colorectal cancer in this age group in Egypt.

Complete rectal prolapse in young Egyptian males: Is schistosomiasis really condemned?

AIM: To investigate the assumption that schistosomiasis is the main cause of rectal prolapse in young Egyptian males. METHODS: Twenty-one male patients between ages of 18 and 50 years with complete rectal prolapse were included in the study out of a total 29 patients with rectal prolapse admitted for surgery at Colorectal Surgery Unit, Ain Shams University hospitals between the period of January 2011 and April 2014. Patients were asked to fill out a specifically designed questionnaire about duration of the prolapse, different bowel symptoms and any past or present history of schistosomiasis. Patients also underwent flexible sigmoidoscopy and four quadrant mid-rectal biopsies documenting any gross or microscopic rectal pathology. Data from questionnaire and pathology results were analyzed and patients were categorized according to their socioeconomic class. RESULTS: Twelve patients (57%) never contracted schistosomiasis and were never susceptible to the disease, nine patients (43%) had history of the disease but were properly treated. None of the patients had gross rectal polyps and none of the patients had active schistosomiasis on histopathological examination. Fifteen patients (71%) had early onset prolapse that started in childhood, majority before the age of 5 years. Thirteen patients (62%) were habitual strainers, and four of them (19%) had straining dating since early childhood. Four patients (19%) stated that prolapse followed a period of straining that ranged between 8 mo and 2 years. Nine patients (43%) in the present study came from the low social class, 10 patients (48%) came from the working class and 2 patients (9%) came from the low middle social class. CONCLUSION: Schistosomiasis should not be considered the main cause of rectal prolapse among young Egyptian males. Childhood prolapse that continues through adult life is likely involved. Childhood prolapse probably results from malnutrition, recurrent parasitic infections and diarrhea that induce straining and prolapse, all are common in lower socioeconomic classes.

The combined abdominal and perineal approach for dissection of the lower rectum. The development of new indications.

AIMS: Dissection of the lower rectum in some low rectal and pararectal pathologies can be technically difficult that it ends up in abandoning the procedure or raising a permanent stoma. The recently described combined abdomino-perineal approach allows completion of rectal dissection from the perineal route and preservation of the anal sphincters. Patients requiring the combined approach are not seen frequently and reports on this new technique are scarce. The purpose of this study is to analyze our results of using the combined abdomino-perineal approach in different benign and malignant low rectal pathologies, and to describe two new indications for the technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 10 patients (8 males, age range 22-75 years), including 7 cancer patients who required the combined abdomino-perineal approach for completion of their procedures. Previously unreported indications for the technique included iatrogenic rectovaginal fistula and presacral tumor. The study was conducted in a tertiary referral colorectal unit in a university hospital. RESULTS: The procedure was completed and the sphincters preserved in all patients. All cancer patients had adequate resection with good quality mesorectum. Continence was preserved in 4 patients. Three patients are living with permanent stoma. Anastomotic perineal fistula requiring dismantling the anastomosis and raising a permanent stoma occurred in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The combined abdomino-perineal approach is useful to complete rectal resection in a highly selected group of patients with technically difficult low rectal pathologies. The technique is probably safe in cancer patients and new indications are evolving. Expectations for preservation of continence are disappointing.

Anal fistula: intraoperative difficulties and unexpected findings.

Anal fistula surgery is a commonly performed procedure. The diverse anatomy of anal fistulae and their proximity to anal sphincters make accurate preoperative diagnosis essential to avoid recurrence and fecal incontinence. Despite the fact that proper preoperative diagnosis can be reached in the majority of patients by simple clinical examination, endoanal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, on many occasions, unexpected findings can be encountered during surgery that can make the operation difficult and correct decision-making crucial. In this article we discuss the difficulties and unexpected findings that can be encountered during anal fistula surgery and how to overcome them.

Sinus excision, release of coccycutaneous attachments and dermal-subcuticular closure (XRD procedure): a novel technique in flattening the natal cleft in pilonidal sinus treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to analyse, prospectively, the outcome of a new technique - excision of pilonidal sinus and flattening the natal cleft by division of the coccycutaneous attachments at the lower end of the incision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients with chronic pilonidal sinuses were treated between 1995 and 2001. The procedure consisted of an elliptical, wide, local excision, release of the coccycutaneous attachments and primary closure using dermal-subcuticular closure (XRD). Suction drains were used until drainage was minimal. The height of skin level at the lower angle of the wound from the coccyx was measured intra-operatively before and after division of the coccycutaneous attachments. Postoperatively, patients were assessed for hospital stay, return to normal activity, complications and recurrence. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (97%) were males, median age 27 years. The height of skin level rose from a mean of 1.8 cm (95% CI, 1.78-1.85) to a mean of 3.8 cm (95% CI, 3.77-3.88; P < 0.001). Morbidity affected 12 patients (18%), epidermal separation of the lower wound angles (6 patients), seromas (5 patients) and 1 wound dehiscence at 2 weeks. All other wounds healed primarily without dehiscence. There were no recurrences after a median follow-up of 22.5 months (range, 12-38 months). CONCLUSIONS: Release of the coccycutaneous attachments is an easy technique to learn, which seems to be an effective way of flattening the natal cleft and may result in lower recurrence rate. This technique should be tried in uncomplicated pilonidal sinus disease before more complex procedures are attempted.

Combined abdominal and perineal approach for delayed restoration of bowel continuity after low anterior resection in females.

Restoration of bowel continuity after Hartmann's operation is the surgeon's goal and the patient's hope. This operation is technically demanding with reportedly high morbidity and mortality. A short distal rectal stump often makes the operation more difficult. In this article, we describe a combined abdominal and perineal approach, which can possibly make delayed restoration of bowel continuity after low anterior rectal resection an easier procedure.

Colorectal cancer in Egypt.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to review the age distribution and pathology features of colorectal cancer in Egypt. METHODS: A seven-year review (retrospective in first six years, prospective in the seventh) of all colorectal adenocarcinoma patients (N = 177; 104 males; mean age, 46; range, 19-74 years) presented to the Department of Surgery, Ain Shams University, was performed. Data from three other major hospitals throughout the country were retrieved and compared with Ain Shams data. Retrospective data were retrieved from patients' files and surgery and pathology records. Family history of colorectal cancer and other characteristic hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer tumors was obtained prospectively in all patients. RESULTS: According to Ain Shams data, the disease had no predilection to a specific age group. Thirty-eight percent of the tumors occurred in patients aged less than 40 years, and only 15 percent of patients were aged above 60 years. None of the young patients fulfilled the Amsterdam criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Seventy-five percent of tumors occurred in the left side, 3 percent were Dukes A, and 58 percent were Dukes C. Synchronous and metachronous tumors occurred in 2.8 and 4.5 percent of patients, respectively. Adenomas were present in 5.6 percent of patients and bilharziasis in 3.4 percent of resection specimens. Data from different centers were remarkably similar to Ain Shams results. CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer in Egypt has no age predilection and more than one-third of tumors affects a young population. The high prevalence in young people can neither be explained on a hereditary basis nor can it be attributed to bilharziasis. The disease usually presents at an advanced stage, and predisposing adenomas are rare. Similarity of the data from different centers suggests that this is the picture of colorectal cancer typical of Egypt.