FAILURE TO DEMONSTRATE SPECIFICITY OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL-CHANGES IN MUCOSA ADJACENT TO COLONIC-CARCINOMA (TRANSITIONAL MUCOSA)

Abstract

Characteristic morphological and histochemical changes in mucosa adjacent to human colorectal adenocarcinomas were described. This type of mucosa, labeled transitional mucosa (TM) because of its specific association with colorectal adenocarcinoma, was thought to be indicative of a premalignant change. In an investigation of mucosa adjacent to anal tumors extending into the rectum and mucosa from solitary ulcer syndrome and colostomies the mucosal alterations described in TM could be demonstrated. TM is not specifically related to colorectal adenocarcinoma and probably arises as a secondary phenomenon. The claim that TM represents a premalignant change cannot be substantiated.