What are the causes of villous tubular adenomas of the colon?

Colon villous tubular adenoma is a raised lesion that protrudes from the surface of the colon mucosa into the intestinal cavity. It is usually a benign tumor, but it is also necessary to pay attention to distinguish the nature of colorectal adenomas and choose the most scientific and effective treatment method. Surgical treatment is more common.

1. Researchers at the University of Washington reported side effects at the 2006 Digestive Disease Week that women with type 2 diabetes have an 80% increased risk of developing colorectal adenomas compared to non-diabetic women. The presence of diabetes plus obesity more than doubles the risk of colorectal adenomas and adenomas detected at a more advanced stage compared with nonobese, nondiabetic women.

2. Dr. Jill E Elwing and colleagues studied 100 women with type 2 diabetes and 500 non-diabetic women undergoing colonoscopy screening. The mean age of patients in the diabetic group was 60 years, 41% were white, and 10% had a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer. The mean body mass index was 34.4, and 29% used insulin. The hormonal status of the nondiabetic control group was comparable. The mean age was 59 years, 68% were white, the mean BMI was 28.5, and 7% were first-degree relatives.

3. Any adenoma that is villous or well tubulovillous and larger than 1 cm in diameter or advanced adenoma or any high-grade hyperplasia meets the definition of adenoma in this study. The adenoma incidence was 37% in women and 24% in nondiabetic women. So the odds are 1.80. The incidence of advanced adenomas was 14% in diabetic women and 6% in non-diabetic women, with an odds ratio of 2.4. Compared with non-obese, non-diabetic women, obese diabetic women had an odds ratio of 2.6 for any adenoma and 3.5 for advanced adenoma, respectively.

4. As a possible cause linking diabetes and colorectal adenoma, the effect of hyperinsulinemia may be the poor cause. Insulin itself is a growth factor. It may have a direct role in promoting tumorigenesis in humans, or it may act indirectly through growth factor-1.