Adenocarcinoma arising at ileostomy sites: Two cases and a review of the literature

Total colectomy with ileostomy placement is a treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). A rare and late complication of this treatment is carcinoma arising at the ileostomy site. We describe two such cases: a 78-year-old male 30 years after subtotal colectomy and ileostomy for FAP, and an 85-year-old male 50 years after colectomy and ileostomy for ulcerative colitis. The long latency period between creation of the ileostomies and development of carcinoma suggests a chronic metaplasia due to an irritating/inflammatory causative factor. Surgical excision of the mass and relocation of the stoma is the mainstay of therapy, with possible benefits from adjuvant chemotherapy. Newly developed lesions at stoma sites should be biopsied to rule out the possibility of this rare ileostomy complication.

The management of gastrointestinal tract malignancies

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for many patients with malignancies of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The coordination of patient care and timing of surgical intervention require a multidisciplinary approach. It is not unusual for GI malignancies to be discovered in a hospital setting; patients with these malignancies are frequently admitted and discharged from nonsurgical services. Therefore, it is imperative that all physicians involved in the care of patients with GI malignancies have knowledge regarding the workup and surgical treatment of GI tract lesions. This article is a brief overview of the workup and surgical management of malignancies of the GI tract.