Schistosomiasis & Colorectal Cancer
Image Description
Chronic intestinal schistosomiasis is considered to be a risk factor for colorectal carcinoma in some parts of Asia and Africa. Both S. japonicum and S. mansoni cause intestinal schistosomiasis. In the Far East, there is considerable evidence supporting an etiological link between S. japonicum and colorectal cancer. However, the available data regarding a role of S. mansoni in colorectal carcinogenesis is not as convincing.
Schistosomes are digenetic blood-dwelling flukes of the flatworm variety. Adult worms of S. japonicum and S. mansoni reside in pairs in the mesenteric vessels, where they lay their eggs. The eggs penetrate the intestinal wall and cause severe inflammatory reaction in the mucosa and submucosa. They can cause formation of granulomas, mucosal ulceration, microabscesses, polyposis, and eventually carcinogenesis through a complex interplay of many different poorly-understood processes and pathways.
This image shows well-differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma in the lower left and normal colonic mucosa on the upper right. A few calcified schistosome ova are seen in the center of the image.
Schistosomes are digenetic blood-dwelling flukes of the flatworm variety. Adult worms of S. japonicum and S. mansoni reside in pairs in the mesenteric vessels, where they lay their eggs. The eggs penetrate the intestinal wall and cause severe inflammatory reaction in the mucosa and submucosa. They can cause formation of granulomas, mucosal ulceration, microabscesses, polyposis, and eventually carcinogenesis through a complex interplay of many different poorly-understood processes and pathways.
This image shows well-differentiated colonic adenocarcinoma in the lower left and normal colonic mucosa on the upper right. A few calcified schistosome ova are seen in the center of the image.