ABSTRACT
Malignancies of the large intestine assume a major importance because of their frequency in the general population. The types of malignancies that may occur can be classified as follows:
1. Adenocarcinoma 2. Carcinoid 3. Lymphoma 4. Sarcoma 5. Squamous cell carcinoma 6. Plasmacytoma
DiSario et al. (1) reported the review of a populationbased registry with complete ascertainment. There were 7422 colorectal carcinomas-4900 (66%) colonic and 2522 (34%) rectal. The breakdown of the 222 (3%) nonadenocarcinoma malignancies was squamous, 75 (34%); malignant carcinoids, 74 (33%); transitional cell-like, 37 (17%); lymphomas, 25 (11%); sarcomas, nine (4%); and melanomas, two (0.9%). Although not stated, the transitional cell-like (including cloacogenic and basaloid carcinomas) and the squamous cell carcinomas (including epidermoid carcinomas) were almost certainly of anal canal origins.
