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What Does "a Scaly Fold Was Seen In The Proximal Ascending Colon" Mean?
Question: Hi, I am female age 50. I had my first colonoscopy the other day. They found what is called "a scaly fold was seen in the proximal ascending colon and a biopsy was obtained" I do have a family history of colon cancer. My diagnosed at age 70. I'm waiting on the results. My question is What does it mean to have a scaly fold? Is it likely to be cancerous?
Brief Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCm
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query. First, whatever it is, it is good that you did colonoscopy and even if there is malignant tumor, it is probably an early phase. This is not uncommon finding in routine colonoscopy and actually this is nonspecific sign and only biopsy can show 100% correct diagnosis.
Scaly fold means that there is colon mucosa lesion. This is small ulcer which is covered with fibrine. It means that there was some inflammatory process which caused damage of inner colon wall and now it is healing. Most commonly it is caused by some kind of colitis (ischemic, crohn, ulcerative, enterocoltis, pseudomembranous). Also, certain food could cause irritation of colon mucosa too.
Of course, cancer is always possible but this is not first thing to think of. If you had blood in stool or anemia then the risk of cancer is higher, but if you didnt have any symptoms then I would say that there is less than 20% possibility of cancer. Most cancers are manifested with intraluminal mass or poyps which are easily seen on colonoscopy and minority of cancer start as "scaly folds".
I hope that I am right,but be patient till you get results. As I said, even if this is the worst scenario,good news are that it will probably be curable disease. WIsh you good health. Feel free to ask. Regards
Hi and welcome to HCm
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your query. First, whatever it is, it is good that you did colonoscopy and even if there is malignant tumor, it is probably an early phase. This is not uncommon finding in routine colonoscopy and actually this is nonspecific sign and only biopsy can show 100% correct diagnosis.
Scaly fold means that there is colon mucosa lesion. This is small ulcer which is covered with fibrine. It means that there was some inflammatory process which caused damage of inner colon wall and now it is healing. Most commonly it is caused by some kind of colitis (ischemic, crohn, ulcerative, enterocoltis, pseudomembranous). Also, certain food could cause irritation of colon mucosa too.
Of course, cancer is always possible but this is not first thing to think of. If you had blood in stool or anemia then the risk of cancer is higher, but if you didnt have any symptoms then I would say that there is less than 20% possibility of cancer. Most cancers are manifested with intraluminal mass or poyps which are easily seen on colonoscopy and minority of cancer start as "scaly folds".
I hope that I am right,but be patient till you get results. As I said, even if this is the worst scenario,good news are that it will probably be curable disease. WIsh you good health. Feel free to ask. Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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