The study highlights the importance of CRC screening in patients diagnosed with cryptogenic pyogenic liver abscess, given the significantly higher incidence of colorectal cancer in this group.
Higher CRC Incidence in PLA Patients: The study observed that a greater proportion of patients with pyogenic liver abscess were diagnosed with colorectal cancer compared to controls (1.9% vs. 0.8%).
Timing of CRC Diagnosis: The incidence of CRC was highest within the first three years following a PLA diagnosis. The hazard ratios (HR) for CRC diagnosis were significantly higher during this period, decreasing gradually over time and becoming nonsignificant after three years.
Study Methodology: Conducted by Hiroyuki Suzuki, MD, MSCI, and colleagues, the research was a patient-level, matched retrospective cohort study involving 8,286 patients diagnosed with PLA and 23,201 controls at 127 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals from 2003 to 2020.
No Association with Certain PLA Types: The study found no significant association between PLA and CRC diagnosis in patients whose PLA was likely secondary to cholangitis or cholecystitis. However, there was a significant increase in CRC incidence among those with cryptogenic PLA.
Increased Mortality Hazards: A subgroup analysis of patients diagnosed with CRC during follow-up showed higher hazards for mortality among patients with PLA up to three years from the diagnosis of CRC.
Implications for CRC Screening: The findings suggest that offering CRC screening to patients with cryptogenic PLA may be beneficial, especially for those who have not been screened according to guidelines.