Perianal fistula-associated carcinoma in Crohn´s disease: a multicenter retrospective case control study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS\nCarcinoma associated with perianal fistula in Crohn s disease is a pending threat for patients. This study was aimed to improve understanding and facilitate development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA retrospective case-control study was conducted at four German hospitals. The analysis included forty patients with proven malignancy associated with perianal Crohn s fistulas and forty randomly-selected controls with fistulizing perianal Crohn s disease. Differences between groups were analysed and multivariate calculations performed to describe risk factors for oncological outcomes.\n\n\nRESULTS\nHistology revealed adenocarcinoma in 33/40 patients and squamous cell carcinoma in 7/40 patients. Compared to fistula patients without carcinoma, patients with malignancies associated to fistula had a diagnosis of Crohn s disease in younger age. Crohn s disease lasted longer in patients with malignancy (25.8 ± 9.0 vs. 19.6 ± 10.4; p=0.006).Fistula related findings differed significantly between both groups. Signs for complicated and severe fistulation including complex anatomy and chronic activity occurred significantly more often in patients with malignancy associated to fistula.Significant multivariate hazard ratios for overall mortality and progression-free survival were shown for histologic type of cancer, metastatic disease and R1 resection. Overall survival (OS) was 45.1±28.6 months and the 5-year survival rate was 65%.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nIn patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma associated with perianal fistula in Crohn s disease, fistula characteristics determine risk for malignancy. Early diagnosis influences outcomes, while treatment of chronic fistula activity may be key to preventing malignancy. Expert multimodal therapy is paramount for successful treatment of perianal fistula-associated malignancies.