Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to rise with the increasing rates in the developing world and the improving longevity of IBD patients. A diagnosis of colonic IBD is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and this accounts for approximately 15% of the estimated mortality from IBD. CRC in IBD appears to be a pathologically distinct entity and progress is being made to understand the unique components of this process with a view to better predicting outcomes and potentially improving surveillance, treatments, and eventually modifying risk. In the interim, patients are entered into surveillance programs designed to identify at-risk patients early and improve outcomes. Dramatic evolution of technology in this area has changed the landscape of surveillance and dysplasia management over the last decade and promises to continue to do so. This review aims to provide a contemporary overview of IBD-associated CRC in terms of its epidemiology, pathogenesis, surveillance, and management.