[Local recurrences following carcinoma of the rectum-etiology, diagnosis, prognosis (author's transl)]

Location of pelvic recurrence after 'curative' low anterior resection for rectal cancer

AIMS

It has been emphasized that the mesorectum is the key to local recurrence after resection for rectal cancer. In view of this we studied the location of recurrences, relative to the bed of the primary tumour, the neorectum and the level of anastomoses, in patients referred for recurrences after low anterior resection (LAR) in the <<pre-total mesorectal excision (TME) era>>.

METHODS

The relative level above the anal verge of the primary cancer, the anastomosis and the recurrence was registered by proctoscopy in 46 patients operated on for recurrent cancer after low anterior resection. The origin of the recurrence was determined from the operative specimen.

RESULTS

The median level of the primary cancers was 10 cm above the anal verge, with the anastomoses 2 cm lower, the majority being within 2 cm. Most recurrences were within 1 cm of the anastomosis. No rectal cancer occurred more than 3 cm distal to the anastomosis. Seventy to 80% of recurrences started peri-rectally, most invading the anastomosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The tumour bed is most often the origin of the recurrence. Recurrences were mostly due to inadequate radial, and in a few cases longitudinal, dissection of the mesorectum. Virtually all recurrences were within reach of the examining finger. At follow-up of rectal cancers most local recurrences can therefore be identified earlier by digital examination than by proctoscopy.

Impact of computed tomography vs. intrarectal ultrasound on the diagnosis, resectability, and prognosis of locally recurrent rectal cancer

The use of modern techniques of imaging in the postoperative follow-up is reported to allow an earlier diagnosis of local recurrence in patients operated on with anterior resection for rectal cancer and, consequently, to allow a higher percentage of local recurrence resection to be performed. Although intrarectal ultrasound (IU) has proved highly reliable in preoperative staging, its value in relapse detection has been investigated only in retrospective studies and rarely compared with that of computed tomography (CT). The present prospective study aims at evaluating the role of IU vs. CT in the diagnosis of local recurrence and at verifying whether an earlier diagnosis and a higher resectability rate of recurrence result in an acceptable long-term survival. Thirty-seven patients who had undergone low and ultralow anterior resection for rectal cancer (anastomosis within 10 cm of the anal verge) were investigated prospectively. All the patients have been followed up by IU and CT at predetermined intervals. Six local recurrences were detected. CT correctly identified all the local recurrences (sensitivity = 100 percent, specificity = 93 percent, and accuracy = 94.5 percent); IU correctly identified only four of six local recurrences (sensitivity = 66.6 percent, specificity = 93 percent, and accuracy = 89 percent). Four patients with local recurrence underwent surgical treatment (resectability rate = 66.6 percent). Abdominoperineal resection in three patients and Hartmann's procedure in one patient were performed. In the other two patients, extensive metastatic liver involvements contraindicated surgery. All the resected patients were alive after one year; two of them are disease free, and the other two experienced recurrent disease. In conclusion, CT seems to have a higher sensitivity and accuracy in relapse detection. The increase in the local recurrence resectability rate does not result in a significant improvement in long-term survival. However, the good quality of life justifies the high cost of an intensive follow-up and a more aggressive surgical approach.

Extensive en bloc resection of regionally recurrent carcinoma of the rectum

To remove regionally recurrent cancer of the rectum completely, more radical extensive resections were attempted than the conventional ones in 35 patients. Twenty-two patients underwent total pelvic exenteration. In 23, sacral resection was done, combined with other procedures including excision of the entire circumference of the lower pelvic ring. There were two hospital deaths. Delayed wound healing was seen in ten. Preoperative severe pain was alleviated in 18. Also, perineal ulcer, vaginal bleeding, bloody stools, and tenesmus disappeared. Of the four 5-year survivors (estimated rate, 23%), only one was disease-free. A second recurrence was seen in 27 patients, of whom 23 had regional failure. It was concluded that so-called local recurrence is a lesion more widespread than indicated by imaging and biopsy. Therefore, even the most radical resection rarely can cure this disease. However, such a surgical procedure can afford more effective palliation than other treatments and may prolong life in selected patients significantly.

[Individual risk-related after-care in colorectal cancer?]

Efficacy of the regular follow-up program and influence on survival rate following treatment of recurrence were evaluated. 556 follow-up records of patients after resection of colorectal cancer were analysed. The primary drop-out rate was 12.4%. Recurrences were found in 26.6% (n = 128). 53.1% of recurrences were symptomatic at diagnosis of recurrence. Curative resection of recurrence was only performed in 19.5%. 46.1% were given palliative and 34.4 no specific oncologic treatment. We define efficacy as the rate of curative asymptomatic recurrence. This was 3.5% of all patients. From the curative resection of recurrence only 6 patients were free of recurrence longer than 2 years. No second resection of recurrence was possible. Different treatment of recurrence did influence the survival rate (p = 0.09). There was no difference in prognosis for asymptomatic and symptomatic recurrences (p greater than 0.8). In order to increase the efficacy of follow-up for colorectal cancer we are introducing a new concept based on individual risk factors.

Intraoperative spillage of tumor cells in surgery for rectal cancer

Inadvertent perforation or incision into rectal carcinoma during surgery may lead to massive dissemination of tumor cells in the operative area. It was observed in 8.7 percent of 1360 radical resections for cure. In time, the incidence could be reduced from 11.0 to 5.2 percent. Intraoperative spillage of tumor cells influences the incidence of local recurrence. In the last period (1982 to 1985) in cases of spillage of tumor cells, local recurrence was seen in 39 percent as opposed to 12.9 percent in perforation or incision of the tumor. Intraoperative tumor-cell spillage has a negative effect on survival rates, reducing the relative five-year survival rate after resection for cure from 70 to 44 percent. It should be recorded in the surgical and pathologic reports and considered in the analysis of treatment results and in selection of patients for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Rectal cancer: factors influencing the development of local recurrence after radical anterior resection

The study was designed to select criteria which influence the incidence of local recurrence after radical anterior resection for rectal cancer. Local recurrence developed in 18 patients (20%) out of 90. All patients entered a prospective clinical study for the detection of local recurrence (mean observation time: 50 months). The following criteria were evaluated retrospectively: age, sex, staging, grading, gross appearance of the tumour, lymphatic reaction, invasion of lymph- and blood vessels, perineural invasion, mucus production of the tumour and width of the distal margin of clearance (measurement in cm in the specimen immediately after resection). The incidence of local recurrence (%) depended on Dukes stage (A: 7%, B: 17%, C: 40%; p less than or equal to 0.03), grading (well differentiated: 5%, average: 20%, poorly differentiated: 55%; p less than or equal to 0.02), gross appearance (protuberant: 15%, infiltrating: 47%; p less than or equal to 0.006), lymphatic stroma reaction (yes: 10%, no: 45%; p less than or equal to 0.006), invasion of veins (yes: 75%, no: 20%; p less than or equal to 0.0002), perineural invasion (yes: 52%, no: 17%; p less than or equal to 0.001) and the margin of clearance (less than 1 cm: 52%; 1-3 cm: 10%, greater than 3 cm: 15%; p less than or equal to 0.02 Mantel, p less than or equal to 0.05 Breslow between less than 1 cm vs 1-3 cm and greater than 3 cm, respectively). Local recurrence was not related to age, sex and mucus production of the tumour. Unfavourable morphological criteria may help to define groups with a higher risk of developing local recurrence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Results of a rigorous follow-up system in colorectal cancer

Results of a computer-aided follow-up programme for patients with colorectal cancer are analyzed. Between 1978 and 1987 1293 patients underwent this programme, the drop-out rate was 17%. 299 recurrences in 168 patients were discovered (40% local recurrence, 29% liver metastases and 31% others). Fifty-one per cent of patients with local recurrence and 47% with liver metastases were symptom free. Radical surgery could be performed in 50% of local recurrences and in 26% of liver metastases. The three year survival rate after radical surgery for recurrence was 35% for local recurrences and 33% for liver metastases, the five-year-survival rate 23% and 15%, respectively.

Local recurrence and the EEA stapler--examination of a predictive model

The overall local recurrence rate following resection of colorectal cancer with restoration of continuity with staples in Wellington was 24%. Nine of 11 patients with local recurrence following resection of rectal tumours had distant metastases at the time of diagnosis of their local recurrence. Using a predictive model to retrospectively estimate the probability of local recurrence it was found that nine of these 11 patients would have been expected to have had a lower local recurrence rate had they undergone abdominoperineal resection of the rectum initially. Since local recurrence is simply a local manifestation of systemic disease in 90% of patients, however, it is suggested that patients would prefer restoration of bowel continuity in preference to rectal excision and stoma formation, there being such little survival advantage for the latter procedure. The utility of the predictive model is therefore questioned.

Local recurrence of colorectal cancer: effect of early detection and aggressive surgery

A prospective study was undertaken of the incidence, symptoms, diagnostic measures and therapy of local recurrences of colorectal carcinoma following radical surgical management. Out of 715 patients, 156 (22 per cent) developed recurrence of the tumour, which was local in 90 patients. In addition, 36 patients with local recurrence from other hospitals were treated. Half of the patients were symptom-free at the time of diagnosis. Out of the 126 patients, 109 were treated by surgery, a radical operation being feasible in 53 cases. Fifty per cent of these have survived for at least 17 months. The operative mortality was very low (4.6 per cent), although extensive surgery was necessary in most of the cases. The preliminary results of this study support the hypothesis that a postoperative follow-up programme for patients with colorectal cancer leads to early detection of local recurrence and improves the chance of cure by surgical treatment.

Radiotherapy of presacral recurrence following radical surgery for rectal carcinoma

The records of 58 patients treated by radiotherapy for presacral recurrent rectal cancers between 1975 and 1982 were evaluated. Pain was one of the most distressing symptoms, occurring in 38 of 58 patients (66 percent) which, in 90 percent (34 of 38) of patients could be controlled by radiotherapy. Side effects were mild, and could be treated conservatively. The crude survival of the patients was 19.8 months (range, 3 to 71 months). Only 3 percent of those treated survived five years. The dose-survival study showed increased survival of patients treated with more than 44 Gy. Because of negative selection of patients irradiated with lower doses, certain conclusions cannot be made. Surgery, if performed radically, is the treatment of choice. But patients with inoperable disease treated with radiotherapy benefit symptomatically, and might have increased survivals with a small chance of cure.

[Principles and results of narrow rectum continence resection in cancer]

The special anatomy of the "Rectum-Grenzlamellen" is the reason for justification to carry out a curative sphincter-preserving resection in carefully selected cases. In a small segment just above the pelvic floor muscles there are not any lymphnodes, when the lateral ligaments are divided and the rectum is thoroughly mobilized from the sacral concavity and stretched. The length of rectum below the tumor measured on fixed pinned-out pathologic specimens was about 2 cm. The local recurrences were 6% of 196 cases. The 5-year survival rate of this low restorative resection at St. Marks Hospital was excellent. These results suggest that a margin about 2 cm below a rectal carcinoma does not affect survival or local recurrence adversely.