Etymed
colorectal adenocarcinoma
Definition
A malignant tumor arising from the glandular tissue of the colon and rectum
Clinical context
A 55-year-old man presents with a 2-month history of blood in his stool and alternating constipation and diarrhea. He has a 15-year history of ulcerative colitis. Colonoscopy reveals a large, cauliflower-like mass in the sigmoid colon with friable mucosa. Biopsy confirms malignant glands arising from the colorectal mucosa. His tumor marker CEA is elevated at 15 ng/mL. The patient undergoes colectomy with lymph node dissection.
Mnemonic
COLON adenocarcinoma - C = Colonic, O = Overgrowth, L = Lymph nodes, O = Obstruction, N = Necrosis, A = Adenocarcinoma