Visceral Adipose Tissue Volume and the Occurrence of Colorectal Adenoma in Follow-up Colonoscopy for Screening and Surveillance

Whether obesity accelerates adenoma recurrence is not yet clear; therefore, we analyzed the risk factors for adenoma occurrence at follow-up colonoscopy, with a focus on visceral adiposity. In total, 1516 subjects underwent index colonoscopy, computed tomography, and questionnaire assessment from February to May 2008; 539 subjects underwent follow-up colonoscopy at the National Cancer Center at least 6 mo after the index colonoscopy. The relationships between the presence of adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy and anthropometric obesity measurements, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volume, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) volume, were analyzed. 188 (34.9%) had adenomatous polyps at follow-up colonoscopy. Multivariate analysis revealed that VAT volume ≥ 1000 cm³ and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² were related to the presence of adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy (VAT volume 1000–1500 cm³: odds ratio [OR] = 2.13(95% confidence interval, CI = 1.06–4.26), P = 0.034; VAT volume ≥ 1000 cm³: OR = 2.24(95% CI = 1.03–4.88), P = 0.043; BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²: OR = 4.22(95% CI = 1.12–15.93), P = 0.034). In contrast, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m², SAT volume, and WC were not associated with the presence of adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy. In conclusion, excess VAT can contribute to the development and growth of new colorectal adenomas, and is a better predictor of colorectal adenoma occurrence at follow-up colonoscopy than BMI, WC, and SAT volume.