Cholecystectomy and Colorectal Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Schernhammer E S, Leitzmann M F, Michaud D S, Speizer F E, Giovannucci E, Colditz G A, Fuchs C S
Primary Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Hypothesis
Does cholecystectomy increase the risk of colorectal cancer and distal colorectal adenomas?
Conclusion
The study found a modest increase in the risk of colorectal cancer associated with a history of cholecystectomy, particularly for proximal colon and rectal cancers.
Supporting Evidence
- A history of cholecystectomy was reported by 7.7% of the women in the study.
- During 16 years of follow-up, 877 women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
- Women with a history of cholecystectomy had a relative risk of 1.21 for developing colorectal cancer.
Takeaway
Women who have had their gallbladder removed might have a slightly higher chance of getting colon cancer, especially in certain parts of the colon.
Methodology
The study used data from the Nurses' Health Study, analyzing the health records of 85,184 women over 16 years to assess the relationship between cholecystectomy and colorectal cancer.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of detection bias and residual confounding affecting the results.
Limitations
The study may have residual confounding and potential detection bias due to higher screening rates among women with a history of cholecystectomy.
Participant Demographics
The study included 85,184 female registered nurses aged 30-55 at the start of the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.21
Confidence Interval
1.01–1.46
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website