Abstract

The prevalence of colon cancer is increasing in Korea and the principal strategy of its management is early detection and surgical resection. For the early detection of colon cancer, endoscopic evaluation is important and the ability to find out early stage small lesion is needed for the endoscopist. To find out encloscopic features of early colon cancer, we reviewed 17 cases of early colon cancer who have admitted to Seoul National University Hospital from January 1982 to December 1993. 1)59% of the lesions were located in rectum and the size ranged from 0.7cm to 9cm, all of the 17 cases showed polypoid mass contour and the surface of them had erosion, hyperemia, ulceration and easy touch bleeding tendency. 2) Colon cancer was diagnosed by endoscopic gross findings in 41% and endoscopic biopsy could confirm colon cancer in 70%. However, barium enema could diagnose only 41% of early colon cancer. 3) Five cases were operated under the diagnosis of colonic adenoma which were large(>3 cm) villous type or contained severe dysplasia 4) Submucosal tumor infiltration was found in 10 cases and 65% had associated adenoma 5) Lymph node involvement was none and there was no recurrence in 47 month follow up period after various surgical treatments.

• Keywords: Early colon cancer , Endoscopy