Han et al studied the occurrence of malignancies in Koreans with intestinal Behcet's Disease. The authors are from Yonsei University, Sungkyunkwan University and Kangbuk Samsung Hospital.
Patient selection: intestinal Behcet's disease
Criteria for the diagnosis of Behcet's disease:
(1) clinical findings consistent with Behcet's disease
(2) ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tract
A prescription for 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) for > 1 month was used as a marker for intestinal Behcet's disease since it is not used in other forms of Behcet's disease.
Malignancies seen in men:
(1) myelodysplasia
(2) leukemia
(3) stomach
(4) colorectal
Malignancies seen in women:
(1) myelodysplasia
(2) leukemia
(3) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
(4) kidney
(5) endometrial
(6) ovarian
(7) possibly colorectal (expected by not seen)
Observations:
(1) The risk of malignancy for a patient with intestinal Behcet's is greater than for the general population (not compared to patients with non-intestinal Behcet's).
(2) The risk if greater for women than men.
