RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Confirmation of an association between elevated serum gastrin concentrations and presence of colorectal tumors would have important implications with regard to screening procedures and therapeutic strategies. METHODS: We compared fasting serum gastrin concentrations of patients with colorectal cancer (n = 91; mean age, 66 (range, 35-87) years), colorectal polyps (n = 89; mean age, 61 (range, 38-86) years), or a normal colonoscopy (n = 101; mean age, 62 (range, 34-82) years) in the period between 1983 and 1992. RESULTS: Median serum gastrin concentrations were, respectively, 20, 20, and 21 pmol/liter (not significant). We were unable to find a relation with histology of the polyp, presence or severity of dysplasia, and extent of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This large study fails to show any difference in serum gastrin concentrations among the three studied groups.