Most dysplasia in ulcerative colitis is visible at colonoscopy

Abstract

Background Patients with long-standing extensive ulcerative colitis are at increased risk for colorectal carcinoma. Because most dysplasia is believed to be macroscopically invisible, recommended surveillance protocols include multiple non-targeted colonic biopsies. It was hypothesized by us that most dysplasia is actually colonoscopically visible. This study assessed the proportion of dysplasia that has been detected macroscopically in patients who underwent colonoscopy surveillance at our center. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of colonoscopically detected neoplasia (dysplasia or cancer) in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent surveillance from 1988 through 2002. An ..