[Minimal residual tumor in gastrointestinal carcinoma. Relevance to prognosis and oncologic surgical consequences]

The length and complexity of mesentery are related to the locoregional recurrence of the carcinoma in gut

Local-regional relapse is the main recurrence pattern of the carcinoma in gut, and leads to poor prognosis. With the development of the total mesorectal and complete mesocolic excision (TME/CME), the local relapse rate of colorectal cancer has significantly decreased. People attributed it to the improvement of lymphadenectomy, but lymphatic metastasis is difficult to explain the local relapse in N0 patients. Previously, we have proven the existence of "Metastasis V" in mesogastrium and mesocolorectum, and supposed that it is one of the major risk factors in local recurrence. Therefore, we think complete mesentery excision can effectively reduce "Metastasis V", prevent cancer leak and improve patients' outcome. Due to the different length and complexity of mesentery, the difficulty of mesentery excision varies. Meanwhile, there is an obvious distinction of local relapse rate in different alimentary tract, even in different segment of a same organ. Thus we assume that the length and complexity of mesentery may be a risk factor of the locoregional recurrence of the carcinoma in gut.