Cecum
The cecum begins just after the small intestine and is the initial section of the large intestine. It is located immediately after the ileocecal valve, which prevents the return of intestinal contents from the large intestine to the small intestine.
The structure of the cecum
In appearance, the cecum resembles a sac and is located in the region of the right iliac fossa. Its anterior part is covered with an omentum that separates it from the abdominal wall. In the cecum there is a sphincter located on the border between the cecum and the appendix (appendix, appendix of the cecum). It acts as a valve and prevents chyme (liquid intestinal contents, consisting of partially digested food, gastric and intestinal juices) from entering the lumen of the appendix and is called the Gerlach valve.
Process of the cecum
From the back wall of the cecum below the place of its junction with the ileum, a process of the cecum departs. Its length ranges from 3 to 15 cm, and its diameter usually does not exceed 5 mm. It usually lies in the region of the right iliac fossa. The appendix is connected to the cecum by the mesentery. Inside it is lined with a mucous membrane, in which there are rather large areas of accumulation of lymphoid tissue.
It is believed that the appendix of the cecum is a kind of "incubator" in which the microorganisms necessary for normal bowel function develop. It is a well-known fact that after surgical removal of the appendix, the intestinal microflora in humans after antibiotic treatment is restored much longer than in people in whom the appendix of the cecum is preserved. In addition, the appendix also performs a protective function, being part of the mucous immune system. Therefore, it is sometimes called the intestinal tonsil.
Diseases of the cecum
The cecum is a favorite site of localization of a fairly large number of different diseases, which is explained by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of this intestine.
Inflammation of the cecum
The inflammatory process in the tissues of the cecum is called typhlitis. In its symptoms, inflammation of the cecum is similar to appendicitis. Patients complain of pain localized in the right iliac region. But if with appendicitis the pains are not associated with food intake, then with typhlitis they arise or intensify several hours after eating. In addition, with inflammation of the cecum, patients have an increase in body temperature, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
With typhlitis, it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis with gynecological diseases and appendicitis.
If the doctor determines that the inflammatory process is precisely localized in the cecum, then the treatment is conservative. The patient is usually prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, infusion therapy, bed rest and a sparing diet are prescribed.
Typhlitis can lead to the development of complications - mesentery, paratyphlitis (inflammation of the tissues surrounding the cecum) - the treatment of which may require surgical intervention.
Cecum cancer
Malignant tumors of the cecum account for almost 40% of all other intestinal tumors. The insidiousness of cecum cancer is that the disease does not manifest itself in its early stages. Usually the very first sign is the appearance of blood in the feces. The constant loss of blood gradually leads to the development of severe anemia. The appearance of blood in the feces can also be observed with hemorrhoids. Therefore, patients need additional examination, which makes it possible to establish an accurate diagnosis. A survey aimed at detecting cecum cancer should also be carried out for all persons with general anemia, if the cause of its development has not been established.
In the later stages of cecum cancer, patients begin to complain of pain in the right iliac region, lack of appetite, and weight loss. With metastases to the liver, obstructive jaundice develops.
In the presence of a malignant tumor of the cecum, surgical treatment. During the operation, the affected area of the intestine is removed. In most cases, this operation does not require the imposition of a colostomy (the formation of an unnatural anus, which is necessary to drain gas and feces). Such a need may arise only in extreme cases, when the operation is performed in the late stages of the disease, and it is accompanied by massive bleeding. During the operation, lymph nodes and other soft tissues affected by the tumor are also removed.
After surgery, radiation and / or chemotherapy are prescribed, which reduce the likelihood of a relapse of the disease. If a radical operation cannot be performed for any reason (the prevalence of the process with the presence of distant metastases, the general serious condition of the patient, extreme exhaustion, etc.), then chemotherapy is prescribed, the purpose of which is to prolong the patient's life and improve its quality.
In case of malignant tumors of the cecum, treatment is most effective in the early stages of the disease and in many cases allows a complete recovery to be achieved. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical help when the first symptoms of cecum cancer appear!
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