Local recurrence after curative anterior resection with principally blunt dissection for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of local pelvic recurrence of carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid (tumors where the lower edge is 18 cm or less from the anal verge) in a consecutive series of patients operated on by a single surgeon. All patients underwent curative anterior resection and a formal anatomic dissection of the rectum where mobilization was achieved through a principally careful blunt manual technique along fascial planes, preserving an oncologic package. METHOD: During the period April 1986 to December 1997, 157 consecutive anterior resections for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid were performed by one surgeon (ALP). One hundred thirty-eight (87.9 percent) were curative, and 19 (12.1 percent) were palliative. The mean follow-up period was 46±31.6 (range, 2–140) months. Data were retrospectively collated and computer coded by an independent contracted medical research team. Follow-up data were available on all patients. RESULTS: Four (3.1 percent) of the 131 patients undergoing curative anterior resection had local recurrence. Local recurrences occurred between 16 and 38 months from the time of resection, and the cumulative risk of developing local recurrence at five years was 5.2 percent. All tumors in which pelvic recurrence occurred were high grade, and the probability of developing local recurrence at five years for this group was 13.9 percent, which is significantly higher compared with patients who had average or low-grade tumors (P=0.01). The probability of developing local recurrence at five years for Stage I tumors was 0, Stage II was 5.9 percent, and Stage III was 8.9 percent. In addition, there was a significantly higher incidence of local recurrence in the group of patients undergoing ultralow anterior resection (between 3 and 6 cm from the anal verge) as compared with patients undergoing low or high anterior resection (P=0.03). Local recurrence developed in 3 of 28 (10.7 percent) patients having ultralow anterior resection, 1 of 57 (1.8 percent) patients having low anterior resection (between 6 and 10 cm from the anal verge), and no patients having high anterior resection (above 10 cm from the anal verge). The clinical anastomotic leak rate for curative anterior resection was 7 of 131 patients (5.3 percent). Thirty-seven of the 131 (28.2 percent) required a proximal defunctioning stoma; 35 (41.2 percent) of these were established for low or ultralow anterior resections and 2 for high anterior resection. The overall five-year cancer-specific survival rate of the entire group of 131 patients was 81.8 percent, and the overall probability of being disease free at five years including both local and distal recurrence was 72.9 percent. Three local recurrences occurred in the 101 patients (77 percent) who did not receive any form of adjuvant therapy. One local recurrence occurred in the 18 patients (13.7 percent) who had adjuvant chemoradiation. No recurrence occurred in the 12 patients (9.2 percent) who had adjuvant chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Curative anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid with principally blunt dissection of the rectum in this study is associated with a 3.1 percent incidence and a 5.2 percent probability at five years of developing local recurrence. Evidence from this study indicates that, as with sharp pelvic dissection, a low incidence and probability of local recurrence can be achieved by a principally blunt mobilization technique through careful attention to preservation of fascial planes in the pelvis and removal of an oncologic package with selective rather than routine adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemoradiation.Supported by a research grant from the Cabrini Clinical Education and Research Foundation.Read at The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons' 100th Anniversary and Tripartite Meeting, Washington, D.C., May 1 to 6, 1999.     

Local recurrence after curative resection of cancer of the rectum without total mesorectal excision

PURPOSE: The aim of this article was to examine local recurrence after curative resection for carcinoma of the rectum in which the surgical technique of total mesorectal excision was not performed. METHODS: A single surgeon managed the patients and the data collected prospectively. Total excision of the distal mesorectum was not performed in the upper third or mid rectum. RESULTS: From 1969 to 1993 curative resections were performed in 549 patients, of which 17 died postoperatively, leaving 532 for analysis. Sphincter-saving resection was performed in 468 patients (88 percent) and abdominoperineal excision in 58 (10.9 percent). The pathology stages (Dukes) were A, 158 (29.7 percent); B, 184 (34.7 percent); and C, 190 (35.7 percent). Five hundred seventeen patients (97.2 percent) were followed up for a minimum of five years. The median period of follow-up was 82 months. Local recurrence confined to the pelvis occurred in 17 patients, and local recurrence associated with distant metastases occurred in 24 patients. The total five-year local recurrence rate was 7.6 percent. Local recurrence was increased in Stage C tumors (P=<0.0001). Diathermy dissection in the pelvis was associated with a decreased local recurrence rate (P=0.023). The five-year survival rate in curative resections was 72.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS: It is essential that articles presenting local recurrence rates should include both local recurrence in isolation and that which occurs with distant metastases. Although total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer was not performed in this study, the local recurrence rate is not materially different from that in several articles where total mesorectal excision has been used. Whether the distal mesorectum needs to be pursued in mid-rectal cancer is not yet proven.     

Incidence and patterns of recurrence following curative resection for colorectal carcinoma

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine incidence and patterns of recurrence after curative resection of colorectal carcinoma and to determine which variables are significant in predicting outcome. METHOD: A retrospective review of 524 patients operated on by one surgeon from 1975 to 1992 was conducted. Variables recorded included age, gender, location, gross morphology, histology, stage of each primary and evidence of perforation and direct extension at time of original operation. Overall survival and pattern of recurrence were documented. RESULTS: Overall recurrence rate was 27.9 percent. Anastomotic recurrence rate was 11.7 percent. Anastomotic recurrences were higher for rectal than colon lesions (20.3 vs. 6.2 percent;P = 0.001). Distant metastases developed in 14.4 percent of patients, 13.9 percent for colon carcinoma and 15.5 percent for rectal carcinoma. Average time for anastomotic recurrence was 16.2 months vs. 22.9 months for distant disease. T1,2,N0,M0 lesions had a 17.6 percent recurrence rate, T3,N0,M0 was 23.4 percent, and T1,2,3,N1,M0 was 43.7 percent (P =.001). Patients who did not undergo any intervention after diagnosis of recurrence survived an average of 28 months. Those who received palliative treatment survived an average of 39 months. Twenty-four percent of patients had reresection for cure, and 47 percent of these patients were alive at a mean of 80 months; those who died of their disease did so at an average of 53 months. Positive predictive factors for recurrence include site of lesion (rectum vs. colon), stage, invasion of contiguous organs, and presence of perforation. Age, gender, degree of differentiation, mucin secretion, and gross morphology were not found to be predictive factors in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence after resection for rectal carcinoma is higher than after colon carcinoma. In those patients in whom reresection is possible, up to 50 percent may have long-term survival. Understanding patterns of recurrence and features that predispose to them may guide the physician in aggressive but more selective adjuvant therapy and recommendations for targeted surveillance in follow-up.Supported by the Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital Foundation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Presented at the meeting of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 15 to 18, 1995.     

Analysis of recurrence following curative low anterior resection and stapled anastomoses for carcinoma of the middle third and lower rectum

In a series of 93 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer, who underwent potentially curative surgery by low anterior resection (LAR) with EEA stapled anastomosis or by abdominoperineal excision (APE) between January 1977 and December 1981, the incidence of recurrence and survival rate was compared. LAR with stapler was performed in 61 patients: 55 (90.2 percent) with tumors of the middle third and six (9.8 percent) for tumors of the lower third of the rectum. APE was performed in 32 patients: 13 (40.6 percent) with cancer of the midrectum and 19 (59.4 percent) of the lower rectum. Tumor site, Dukes' distribution, grade of malignancy, and extent of local spread were recorded. The tumor stages for LAR with stapler and for APE, respectively, were Dukes' A 7/1; Dukes' B 27/10; Dukes' C 25/18; Dukers' D 2/3. In a follow-up period of four years (range, 6 to 52 months) the overall recurrence rates were 20.4 percent in the LAR with stapled anastomosis group and 21 percent in the APE group. Local recurrence percentages were 9.8 percent after LAR and 14 percent after APE (P=N.S.). Distant recurrences were 12 percent and 14 percent, respectively. The four-year overall survival rates were 76.7 percent after factors correlated with recurrence in low rectal carcinoma were reanalyzed and the controversial points of the surgical management for and against LAR with stapled anastomosis and APE were discussed. It is concluded that LAR with the EEA stapler can be carried out in the middle and lower rectum with the prospect of ultiate cure when performed with proper technical skills in selected patients. Read in part at the meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Houston. Texas, May 11 to 15, 1986.     

Local recurrence following abdominoperineal excision and anterior resection for rectal carcinoma

The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the outcome of abdominoperineal excision (APE) and anterior resection (AR) for rectal cancer in terms of local tumor recurrence. A further comparison has been carried out between hand-sewn and stapled anastomosis; 147 patients have been followed for at least 2 years: 69 after APE and 78 after AR, 40 being stapled. The following variables potentially related to the risk of recurrence were evaluated: age, grading, staging, and site of the tumor. An overall 2-year local recurrence rate of 11 percent after APE and 12 percent after AR was observed, whereas it was 13 and 11 percent following stapled and hand-sewn sutures, respectively. Both differences were not statistically significant. A similar local recurrence rate was noted after APE and AR when the patients were matched for Dukes' stage and grading of the lesion. A trend toward an increased risk of recurrence following AR (P = 0.07) was shown when comparing the two procedures if mid and upper rectal cancers were grouped together. In the patients with anastomotic leaks after AR, no increase of local recurrence was observed. In conclusion, AR is unlikely to be followed by an increased risk of local recurrence and, therefore, when oncologically indicated, may be considered the operation of choice in the treatment of rectal cancer, although the possible risk of its overuse should be taken into account.     

Local tumor recurrence after curative resection for rectal cancer

Local tumor recurrence rates after curative rectal cancer surgery with the end-to-end anastomosis stapler (EEA^®) are reportedly high. Therefore, a retrospective review in ten Yale-affiliated hospitals was undertaken to establish the outcome of surgical resection for rectal cancer in this patient population. Of those 373 patients who had had curative resections, 192 (52 percent) were abdominoperineal resections (APR); 105 patients (28 percent) had restorative resections with sutured anastomoses, and the EEA stapler was used in 76 patients (20 percent). There was an equal distribution of tumors in the various Dukes' stages in all three procedures. Local tumor recurrence was: APR 19 percent, SUT 17 percent, and EEA 24 percent, but local tumor recurrence was more frequent after EEA than APR for tumors 7 to 10 cm from the anal verge (32 vs. 13 percent, respectively,P<0.05), and the time to recurrence was least in EEA patients. It is concluded that local tumor recurrence is higher than expected for all three procedures and that the EEA stapler was associated with a greater risk of local tumor recurrence. These findings are attributed to surgeon-related technical operative factors rather than to the nature of the tumors themselves.     

Bladder dysfunction following anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum

A retrospective study was made of 190 patients who had anterior resections of the rectum for carcinoma at Concord Hospital between 1971 and 1981. Urinary tract infection occurred in 25 percent of patients. Bladder dysfunction occurred in 22 percent of patients, and was more frequent in those in whom the tumor was less than 10 cm from the anal verge. The patients were compared with 122 patients who had undergone abdominoperineal excisions of the rectum for carcinoma. Although the overall incidence of bladder dysfunction was the same in both groups, there was a significantly higher incidence of permanent bladder dysfunction in patients undergoing abdominoperineal excision (P = 0.00034).     

Salvage therapy for pelvic recurrence following curative rectal cancer resection

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic recurrence is a significant problem following curative resection for rectal cancer. Although treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or any combination of these, the role of surgery remains controversial in management of these patients. PURPOSE: In this study, we have attempted to define the patient with pelvic recurrence following curative rectal surgery who may benefit from reresection.METHODS: A review of the prospective colorectal database at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1983 and 1991 identified 25 patients who had pelvic recurrence following a curative resection for rectal cancer and 52 patients who had their initial rectal surgery at an outside institution (OI) and their pelvic recurrence treated at MSKCC. Survival was calculated from time of recurrence by the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival comparisons were made by log-rank analysis. There were no differences between the two groups related to age, gender, type of initial surgery, stage, or use of adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: For the MSKCC group, median time to initial recurrence was 18 months, and median survival was 40 months. Recurrence was symptomatic in 17 patients and asymptomatic in 8 patients. Pain and bleeding accounted for more than one-half of symptomatic recurrences. Of the 17 symptomatic recurrences, 11 (65 percent) had relief of preoperative symptoms. There were no clinical or pathologic factors identified of the primary tumor or recurrence that predicted improved survival following salvage therapy. It was not possible to preoperatively determine which patients could undergo curative reresection. For the OI group, median time to recurrence was 13.7 months, and median survival from time of initial recurrence was 31 months. Curative reresection was the only factor that predicted for improved survival compared with noncurative treatment (P = 0.02). A comparison of the two groups revealed that pelvic recurrence was more likely to be reresected for cure in the OI group vs. the MSKCC group (34/51 vs. 9/25;P < 0.02). There was no survival difference between the two groups when comparing curative with noncurative management of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms from recurrent rectal cancer can be palliated with surgery. The only patients who had a survival benefit were those patients in the OI group whose disease could be completely resected. These differences in reresection rates may be attributable to the presence or absence of available planes for dissection around the recurrence in the OI group, as determined by the method of initial curative resection.     

Peritoneal recurrence of ampullary carcinoma following curative pancreatoduodenectomy

A 72 year-old Japanese man with peritoneal recurrence of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater after curative pancreatoduodenectomy is presented. He was treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for obstructive jaundice. The PTBD catheter dislodged 14 days later. He underwent emergency open peritoneal lavage and external choledochal drainage for diffuse bile peritonitis. Cytologic examination of bile obtained from the T-tube revealed malignant cells. He underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with regional lymph node dissection 2 months later for ampullary carcinoma. Pathologic examination showed a macroscopic protruding, 8 x 7 x 10 mm, papillary adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. The tumor was classified as stage II with pT2, pN0, and pM0. Eight months later, cytologic examination of ascites demonstrated adenocarcinoma cells. The patient died with peritoneal recurrence 10 months after curative pancreatoduodenectomy.     

Patterns of intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Using selective angiograms of the liver, we analyzed the patterns of intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinomas following curative surgery. In 33 patients with intrahepatic recurrences, seven patients (21%) had a recurrence near the resected hepatic stump. The remaining 26 had either a nodular recurrence in segments away from the resected margin or a widespread multinodular recurrence in the liver remnant. There was a recurrence within the first postoperative year in five of 16 patients with a nodular recurrence and in eight of 10 patients with a widespread multinodular recurrence. In these patients, particularly those with a widespread multinodular recurrence, tumor thrombi in the portal vein present before the operation and/or disseminated during operation from such an advanced main tumor seemed to be the most important and significant factor related to the early recurrence in the remnant liver. This evidence suggests that in cases of surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma it is important to establish a technique to prevent dissemination of cancer cells due to operative manipulation and also adequate adjuvant therapy rather than attempting to obtain an ample resection margin.     

Physiologic status of the anorectum following sphincter-saving resection for carcinoma of the rectum

The physiologic status of the anorectum after low anterior resections or pull-through operations of the rectum was evaluated clinically and by manometric studies. It was demonstrated that the presence of a normal anal resting pressure and an anorectal reflex were important to achieve postoperative continence after sphincter-saving operations. In patients with anastomotic leaks and poor function, a marked high-pressure zone in the anal canal and an anorectal reflex were not found, but as local inflammation resulting from the anastomotic leak disappeared, these parameters returned to normal. A normal anorectal reflex was found in one of three patients after Bacon-type pull-through operations, but the remaining two showed an increase of anal canal pressure during colonic distention. These results indicate that an elevation of anal-canal pressure in response to colonic distention plays a significant role in fecal continence at the time of “a sense of urgency” if internal sphincter function is impaired. Presented at the 8th Biennial Congress of the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Melbourne, Australia, September 7 to 11, 1980.     

Risk factors for early recurrence of small hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection

BACKGROUND:Poorer prognosis is seen in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatic resection with early recurrence (≤1 year) than in those with late recurrence (>1 year).This study aimed to identify risk factors for postoperative early recurrence of small HCC (≤3 cm in diameter).METHODS:The study population consisted of 158 patients who underwent curative resection for small HCC between January 2002 and July 2004.Risk factors for early recurrence were analyzed.RESULTS:Thirty-three (2...     

Risk factors of intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the risk factors for the development of intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been widely studied, little attention has been given to the prognostic factors affecting such patients. METHODOLOGY: Intrahepatic recurrence occurred in 105 (56%) of 188 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection of HCC and were discharged from the hospital. Among them, 17 (16%) also had simultaneous extrahepatic recurrence. Independent prognostic factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that presence of extrahepatic recurrence, hepatitis B, and non-surgical treatments for recurrence were independent predictors of poor overall survival after initial hepatic resection or after recurrence. Risk factors of extrahepatic recurrence were young age, solitary and large HCC, high hepatitis activity, and large amount of intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients with intrahepatic recurrent HCC after resection should be stratified by the type of recurrence, type of hepatitis, and type of treatment for recurrence.     

Risk factors for immediate post-operative fatal recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathological riskfactors for immediate post-operative fatal recurrenceof hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),which may havepractical implication and contribute to establishinghigh risk patients for pre-or post-operative preventivemeasures against HCC recurrence.METHODS:From June 1994 to May 2004,269 patientswho received curative resection for HCC were reviewed.Of these patients,those who demonstrated diffuse intra-hepatic or multiple systemic recurrent lesions within 6mo after surgery were investigated (fatal recurrencegroup).The remaining patients were designated as thecontrol group,and the two groups were compared forclinicopathologic risk factors.RESULTS:Among the 269 patients reviewed,30patients were enrolled in the fatal recurrence group.Among the latter,20 patients showed diffuse intra-hepatic recurrence type and 10 showed multiple systemicrecurrence type.Multivariate analysis between the fatalrecurrence group and control group showed that pre-operative serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level wasgreater than 1000 μg/L (P=0.02; odds ratio=2.98),tumor size greater than 6.5 cm (P=0.03; OR=2.98),and presence of microvascular invasion (P=0.01;OR=4.89) were the risk factors in the fatal recurrencegroup.The 48.1% of the patients who had all the threerisk factors and the 22% of those who had two riskfactors experienced fatal recurrence within 6 mo aftersurgery.CONCLUSION:Three distinct risk factors for immediatepost-operative fatal recurrence of HCC after curativeresection are pre-operative serum AFP level>1000 μg/L, tumor size>6.5 cm,and microvascular invasion.Thehigh risk patients with two or more risk factors should bethe candidates for various adjuvant clinical trials.     

Local recurrence after curative resection in patients with colon and rectal cancers

Background and aims  There are a range of rates and a number of prognostic factors associated with the local recurrence of colorectal cancer after curative resection. The aim of this study was to identify the potential prognostic factors of local recurrence in patients with colon and rectal cancers. Materials and methods  A retrospective review of 1,838 patients who underwent curative resection of non-metastatic colorectal cancer was conducted. The patients were treated between 1994 and 2004, and had a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Results  There were 994 patients with colon cancer and 844 patients with rectal cancer. The median duration of follow-up was 60.9 ± 24.5 months. With respect to colon cancer, the local recurrence rate was 6.1% (61 patients). With respect to rectal cancer, 95 patients had a local recurrence (11.3%), the rate of which was statistically greater than the local recurrence rate for colon cancer (p < 0.001). The overall recurrence rate was 16.4% (301 patients), and the local recurrence rate, with or without systemic metastases, was 8.5% (156 patients). Local recurrences occurred within 2 and 3 years in 59.9% and 82.4% of the patients, respectively. In patients with colon and rectal cancer, the pathologic T stage (p = 0.044 and p = 0.034, respectively), pathologic N stage (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.013 and p = 0.004, respectively) were adverse risk factors for local recurrence. The level of the anastomosis from the anal verge was an additional prognostic factor (p = 0.007) in patients with rectal cancer. Conclusion  Compulsive follow-up care of patients with colon and rectal cancers is needed for 3 years after curative resection, especially in patients who have adverse risk factors for local recurrence.     

Prognostic value of postoperative complication for early recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Postoperative complications may adversely affect oncological outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of postoperative complications on early-phase recurrence after curative resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods: We included 145 HCC patients who underwent initial and curative resection between January2004 and December 2013. Postoperative complications of grade III or higher based on Clavien–Dindo classification were defined as clinically relevant postoperative complications. Recurrence within two years after hepatectomy was defined as early-phase recurrence.Results: Thirty-eight patients(26%) developed postoperative complications. The only predictive factor for postoperative complication was longer operative duration(P = 0.037). The disease-specific survival rate of patients with complication was lower than that of patients without complications(P = 0.015). Earlyphase recurrence was observed in 20/38(53%) patients who suffered postoperative complications and36/107(34%) patients with no complications, which was statistically significant(P = 0.039). Multivariate analysis identified four factors contributing to early-phase recurrence: high serum AFP level(P = 0.042),multiple tumors(P 0.001), poor differentiation(P = 0.036) and presence of postoperative complication(P = 0.039).Conclusions: Postoperative complication is an independent prognostic factor for early-phase recurrence after curative resection of HCC. Close observation of patients with postoperative complications may be a necessary treatment strategy for HCC.     

Risk factors for local recurrence of middle and lower rectal carcinoma after curative resection

AIM： To explore the risk factors for local recurrence of middle and lower rectal carcinoma after curative resection. METHODS： Specimens of middle and lower rectal carcinoma from 56 patients who received curative resection at the Department of General Surgery of Guangdong Provincial People＇s Hospital were studied. A large slice technique was used to detect mesorectal metastasis and evaluate circumferential resection margin status. The relations between clinicopathologic characteristics, mesorectal metastasis and circumferential resection margin status were identified in patients with local recurrence of middle and lower rectal carcinoma. RESULTS： Local recurrence of middle and lower rectal carcinoma after curative resection occurred in 7 of the 56 patients （12.5%）, and was significantly associated with family history （Х^2= 3.929, P = 0.047）, high CEA level （Х^2 = 4.964, P = 0.026）, cancerous perforation （Х^2 = 8.503, P = 0.004）, tumor differentiation （Х^2 = 9.315, P = 0.009） and vessel cancerous emboli （Х^2 = 11.879, P = 0.001）. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between local recurrence of rectal carcinoma and other variables such as age （Х^2 = 0.506, P = 0.477）, gender （Х^2 = 0.102, Z2 = 0.749）, tumor diameter （Х^2 = 0.421, P = 0.516）,tumor infiltration （Х^2 = 5.052, P = 0.168）, depth of tumor invasion （Х^2 = 4.588, P = 0.101）, lymph node metastases （Х^2 = 3.688, P = 0.055） and TNM staging system （Х^2 = 3.765, P = 0.152）. The local recurrence rate of middle and lower rectal carcinoma was 33.3% （4/12） in patients with positive circumferential resection margin and 6.8% （3/44） in those with negative circumferential resection margin. There was a significant difference between the two groups （Х^2 = 6.061, P = 0.014）. Local recurrence of rectal carcinoma occurred in 6 of 36 patients （16.7%） with mesorectal metastasis, and in 1 of 20 patients （5.0%） without mesorectal metastasis. However, there was no significant