Kolorektale

Kolorektale refers to the colon and rectum, the final sections of the digestive tract. The term is used in several languages to describe anatomy and diseases of the large intestine. The colon absorbs water and electrolytes and forms stool, which is stored in the rectum until defecation. The health of this region is important for digestion, waste elimination, and overall metabolic balance.

Common kolorektale diseases include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, and benign polyps. Colorectal cancer often develops from adenomatous polyps that slowly grow over years. Other conditions can cause abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, or unintended weight loss, but symptoms may also be absent in early stages.

Risk factors for kolorektale diseases include increasing age, family history, certain inherited syndromes, inflammatory bowel disease, a diet high in red and processed meat and low in fiber, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Regular screening is an important preventive measure and may include fecal tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or CT colonography. Screening aims to detect polyps before they become cancerous and to identify cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage.

Diagnosis typically involves colonoscopy with biopsy and imaging studies for staging if cancer is found. Treatment for colorectal cancer depends on the stage and may involve surgery to remove part of the colon or rectum, along with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies. Prognosis varies with stage, but early detection through screening improves outcomes. Prevention focuses on lifestyle factors and adherence to recommended screening schedules.