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Types of tumors of the sigmoid colon
The most common types of sigmoid tumors are:
- Polyps and villous tumors . Benign tumors occur in different parts of the large intestine. This type of tumor is characterized as a precancerous condition of the sigmoid colon.
- Adenocarcinoma . The most common type of colon cancer. Doctors diagnose adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon in 80% of cases.
- Signet cell carcinoma . The tumor accounts for 3-4% of all oncology of the sigmoid colon. It is characterized by rapid metastasis and spread to nearby organs.
Stages of development of sigmoid colon cancer
stage 1 sigmoid colon cancer
- The neoplasm is localized in the mucous membrane or submucosal layers of the sigmoid colon.
- The size of the tumor is up to 15 mm.
- Metastases are absent.
- Symptoms: often absent, rarely appears blood in the feces.
2 degree sigmoid colon cancer
- The size of the neoplasm is up to half the diameter of the sigmoid colon.
- The tumor may remain within the intestinal mucosa (cancer subspecies 2a). Subtype 2b - the tumor has grown into the wall, metastases have appeared in the nearby lymph nodes.
- Symptoms: bloating, belching, digestive system disorders (not related to meals), blood in the stool.
3 degree sigmoid colon cancer
- The neoplasm has spread to more than half the diameter of the intestine.
- There are two subspecies: without metastases (3a) and with the appearance of metastases in the nearest lymph nodes (3b).
- Symptoms are supplemented by excessive fatigue and pain in the left side of the intestine. Pain is caused by the fact that the tumor interferes with the patency of the intestine.
stage 4 sigmoid colon cancer
- An extensive tumor grows into other organs (rectum, bladder).
- May metastasize to distant lymph nodes.
- Symptoms are complemented by a sharp weight loss (up to 5 kg per month) and a deterioration in the functioning of the organs into which the cancer has metastasized.
Diagnosis of sigmoid colon cancer
To increase the effectiveness of treatment, it is important to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis at the first symptoms of the disease. It should include:
- a blood test for tumor markers, which allows you to distinguish a benign tumor from a malignant one;
- a colonoscopy with a biopsy so that the doctor determines the location of the tumor and obtains its tissue for further examination;
- CT of three cavities (thoracic, abdominal and pelvic organs), which allows the doctor to determine the stage of development of sigmoid colon cancer.
Treatment options for sigmoid colon cancer
When a patient has a tumor in the sigmoid colon, doctors use the following treatment methods:
- Surgical operation . The doctor determines the type of intervention after a complete examination of the patient and staging of the cancer.
- Chemotherapy. Treatment prevents cancer cells from dividing and slows down tumor growth. Chemotherapy for sigmoid colon cancer cannot replace surgery and is an alternative treatment for an inoperable tumor with metastases.
- Radiation therapy. The procedure stops cell division and reduces the size of the neoplasm. For cancer of the sigmoid colon, doctors use radiotherapy as an adjunct to surgery.
How is sigmoid colon cancer surgery performed?
Depending on the stage and complexity of the course of the disease, doctors perform two types of operations:
- minimally invasive;
- radical.
Minimally invasive surgery
Doctors prescribe the method for cancer of the sigmoid colon in the early stages. The surgeon performs all actions by endoscopic method, without incisions on the skin.
radical surgery
During the abdominal operation, the doctor performs a resection (removal) of the affected area and restores the integrity of the operated intestine. When the tumor grows into other tissues, it may be necessary to remove nearby lymph nodes. In difficult cases, the doctor completely excised the sigmoid and rectum, after which it forms a temporary colostomy (artificial anus).
Prognosis after treatment for sigmoid colon cancer
- At stages 1-2, 95 out of 100 patients live for 5 years.
- At grades 3 and 4, the prognosis depends on the prevalence of the disease. If there are no metastases, 74 patients out of 100 live for more than 5 years. If cancer cells have spread to other organs, only 30-40 patients.