My CT shows numerous pericecal enlarged lymph nodes. Can this be colon cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I just want to start off by saying that I am a 24-year-old male. I have been diagnosed with IBS in the past, and for about seven months, I have had stomach issues on and off. Nothing serious, no weight loss or any large amounts of blood in the stool. I had a CT scan for the first time six months ago, and my abdomen was fine. I did one about a month ago, and they found numerous pericecal enlarged lymph nodes measuring up to 12 mm that may represent mesenteric adenitis.

I am afraid that this is stage 4 colon cancer. All my GI doctors think it is not necessary to do a colonoscopy, and that I am too young to have anything wrong with me, and that it is probably nothing. I did just find out that I had a grandfather who had a blockage in the colon a very long time ago, but received no cancer treatment for it. Should I consult a GI doctor? Are these grounds for concern?

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

See, as such, mesenteric lymphadenitis does not directly represent colon cancer. It is very commonly seen post-infection. So what we do is that we give antibiotics for seven days and later repeat an abdominal ultrasound after one month to check for the size of the lymph nodes. If sizes are decreasing, we simply wait and watch. Actually, these lymph nodes, if once increased in size, may take weeks to months to come down to normal size.

Even if you do not have any symptoms of colon cancer. However, your suspected family history should make us a little concerned. So I would recommend you take a Gastroenterologist consultation and simply get a stool for occult blood done. If this test comes out to be positive, then you would need a colonoscopy.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.