From colonic polyps to colon cancer: Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis

A review of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of colon cancer and colonic polyps is important and timely. This field is rapidly changing because of breakthroughs in the molecular basis of carcinogenesis and in the technology for colon cancer detection and treatment. This article reviews colon cancer and colonic polyps, with a focus on recent dramatic advances, to help the primary care physician and internist appropriately refer patients for screening colonoscopy and intelligently evaluate colonoscopic findings to reduce the mortality from this cancer.