Obstructive Colitis Associated with Upper Rectal Cancer

Lee, Jung Won; Namgung, Hwan; Park, Dong Guk

Abstract

Obstructive colitis refers to ulceroinflammatory lesions that occur in the colon proximal to an obstructing lesion. The pathogenesis is unclear, but raised intraluminal pressure, distension, and bacterial stasis are thought to play a role in the development of ischemia. The normal appearance at surgery may lead to involved segments of colon being used for anastomoses with consequent complications, so an awareness of the clinical, radiological, and endoscopic features of obstructive colitis is mandatory to prevent anastomotic complications. We experienced a case of obstructive colitis associated with a partially obstructing upper rectal cancer in a 67-year-old male. Obstructive colitis was diagnosed by using colonoscopy preoperatively, and an extended resection involving both the tumor and the colitis segment was performed without complications.