Local recurrence of carcinoma of the colon and rectum

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Summaryo

  1. 1.

    Fifty cases of carcinoma of the colon and rectum which met certain criteria for evaluation of recurrence are reviewed in detail.

  2. 2.

    Recurrence at the anastomosis was found in 36 per cent of this select group of patients.

  3. 3.

    Preoperative bowel preparation with a sulfonamide was observed to be associated with a high incidence of recurrence, although it is not known whether this observation is significant.

  4. 4.

    Patients resected for cure had a recurrence rate equivalent to the patients undergoing palliative resection.

  5. 5.

    Lymph node metastases had little relationship to recurrence at the anastomosis.

  6. 6.

    Patients with recurrent carcinoma have a poor prognosis.

  7. 7.

    Local recurrence is a frequent cause of death in patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum.

  8. 8.

    Measures to prevent local recurrence of carcinoma of the colon and rectum have been discussed.

  9. 9.

    Experimental work has been discussed which may indicate the inadequacy of the present methods of preventing local recurrence.

  10. 10.

    Two technics which might reduce the incidence of recurrent carcinoma of the colon and rectum are the use of an iodized suture and a closed anastomosis.

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