Early results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the early experience of the embers of the COST Study Group with colorectal cancer treated by laparoscopic approaches. METHOD: A retrospective review was performed of all patients with colorectal cancer treated with laparoscopy by the COST Study Group before August 1994. Tumor site, stage, differentiation, procedure completion, presence of recurrence (local, distant, trocar site), and cause of death were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum were treated by laparoscopic approach between October 1991 and August 1994 (170 men and 192 women): right colectomy, 170; sigmoid colectomy, 55; low anterior resection, 56; abdominoperineal resection, 44; left colectomy, 22; colostomy, 8; total colectomy, 6; transverse colectomy, 7; exploration, 2. Conversion to an open procedure was required in 15.6 percent of cases. Operative mortality was 2 percent. Tumor characteristics were as follows: TNM state: I, 40 percent; II, 25 percent; III, 18 percent; IV, 17 percent; Differentiation: well-moderate, 88 percent; poor, 12 percent; carcinomatosis, 5 percent. Local (3.6 percent) and distant implantation occurred in four patients (1.1 percent). Only one of these patients died a cancer-related death (Stage III at 36 months). Cancer-related death rates increased with increasing stage of tumor: I, ?4 percent; II, 17 percent; III, 31 percent; IV, 70 percent. CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic approach to colorectal cancer results in early outcome after treatment that is comparable with conventional therapy for colorectal cancer. A randomized trial is needed to compare long-term outcomes of open and laparoscopic approaches with colorectal cancer.     

Long-term survival after laparoscopic colon resection for cancer: complete five-year follow-up

PURPOSE: The role of laparoscopic surgery in the cure of colorectal cancer is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term survival after curative, laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. Specifically, we wanted to review those patients who now had complete five-year follow-up. METHODS: One hundred two consecutive patients (March 1991 to March 1996) underwent laparoscopic colon resections for cancer at one institution and now have complete five-year survival data. Charts were retrospectively reviewed and results compared with conventional surgery, i.e., open colectomy at our institution, and with the National Cancer Data Base during a similar time period. RESULTS: Fifty-nine male and 43 female patients with an average age of 70 (range, 34-92) years made up the study. Complications occurred in 23 percent of patients, and one patient died (1 percent). Forty-four laparoscopic right colectomies, 2 transverse colectomies, 36 laparoscopic left or sigmoid colectomies, 15 laparoscopic low anterior resections, and 5 laparoscopic abdominoperineal resections were performed. The average number of lymph nodes harvested was 6.6 +/- 0.61 (range, 0-22). Eight cases (7.8 percent) were "converted to open"; i.e., the typical 6-cm extraction site was lengthened to complete mobilization, devascularization, resection, or anastomosis, or a separate incision was required to complete the procedure. There was one extraction-site recurrence and one port-site recurrence; both occurred before the routine use of plastic-sleeve wound protection. The mean follow-up for laparoscopic colon resection patients was 64.4 +/- 2.8 (range, 1-111) months. According to the TNM classification system, 27 patients had Stage I cancer, 37 had Stage II, 23 had Stage III, and 15 had Stage IV. Similar five-year survival rates for laparoscopic and conventional surgery for cancer were noted. The five-year relative survival rates in the laparoscopic colon resection group were 73 percent for Stage I, 61 percent for Stage II, 55 percent for Stage III, and 0 percent for Stage IV. The five-year relative survival rates for the open colectomy and National Cancer Data Base groups were 75 and 70 percent, respectively, for Stage I, 65 and 60 percent for Stage II, 46 and 44 percent for Stage III, and 11 and 7 percent for Stage IV. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic colon resection for cancer is safe and feasible in a private setting. Our data suggest that long-term survival after laparoscopic colon resection for cancer is similar to survival after conventional surgery. Prospective, randomized trials presently under way will likely confirm these results.     

Laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal carcinoma

INTRODUCTION: The place of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for colorectal carcinoma is controversial. This study reviewed a consecutive series of patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal carcinoma in the past five years. METHODS: Two hundred seventeen laparoscopic-assisted resections of colorectal carcinoma were attempted starting in April 1992. Initially, we only selected patients with metastatic disease or patients who were older than 65 years. Subsequently, both palliative and curative resections were attempted in patients with a suitable tumor, with no age limitation. Thus, all suitable patients were randomly assigned to received either laparoscopic-assisted or conventional open surgery. RESULTS: Data collection was completed in 201 patients. In 22 patients open surgery was performed after a diagnostic laparoscopy. In the remaining 179 patients (90 males) in whom laparoscopic dissection was actually performed, the mean follow-up was 19.8 months, and the mean age was 66.3 years. The procedures performed included right hemicolectomy or extended right hemicolectomy (30 patients), transverse colectomy (2 patients), left hemicolectomy (3 patients), sigmoidectomy (48 patients), anterior resection (59 patients), and abdominoperineal resection (37 patients). Thirty-two (17.7 percent) procedures were converted to open surgery. The mean operation time was 203 minutes. The median blood loss was negligible, and the median requirement of transfusion was zero. The median number of postoperative parenteral analgesic injections was three. The median time to resume diet and hospital discharge were four and six days, respectively. The operative mortality was 1.7 percent. The survival rates at four years were 100, 88.3, and 64.5 percent for patients with Dukes A, B, and C disease, respectively. There was only one (0.65 percent) port-site recurrence. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal carcinoma was technically feasible and safe. It allowed early postoperative recovery with satisfactory long-term survival. This is at the expense of a long operation. Its benefits over the conventional open technique await the results of the randomized trials.     

Laparoscopicvs. open abdominoperineal resection for cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection and open abdominoperineal resection for cancer. METHODS: Records of 194 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (42 patients) or open abdominoperineal resection (152 patients) at three institutions between 1991 and 1997 were reviewed. Follow-up was through office charts, American College of Surgeons cancer registry, or telephone contact. Tumors included (laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection and open abdominoperineal resection, respectively) adenocarcinoma (86 and 92 percent), squamous (12 and 7 percent), and gastrointestinal stromal (2 and 1.4 percent) types; Stages I (17 and 26 percent), II (24 and 33 percent), III (43 and 32 percent), and IV (14 and 9 percent); and those with invasion of pelvic structures (14 and 16 percent). RESULTS: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection was converted to open abdominoperineal resection in 21 percent because of vessel injury (33 percent), poor exposure (22 percent), adhesions (22 percent), inguinal hernia (11 percent), or radiation fibrosis (11 percent). Perineal infections occurred more often in the laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection group (24vs. 8 percent;P=0.02). Late stoma complications were similar. Mean hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (7vs. 12 days). Radial margins were positive in 12 percent of laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection and 12.5 percent of open abdominoperineal resection specimens. Tumor recurrence was similar for both local (19 and 14 percent) and distant (38 and 26 percent) recurrence. Survival rates were similar by Kaplan-Meier curves, with median follow-up of 19 and 24 months, respectively (P=0.22; log rank). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection can be performed safely and results in a shorter hospital stay. A randomized, prospective trial is needed to determine the long-term outcome of cancer treatment.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Antonio, Texas, May 2 to 7, 1998.     

Neoadjuvant external beam radiation and proctectomy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rate, local failure, and perioperative morbidity in patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum undergoing curative proctectomy who were felt to have transmural disease on preoperative assessment. Eighty-nine percent of these patients were treated with preoperative external beam radiotherapy. METHODS: The records of 191 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal surgical procedures for primary treatment of rectal cancer were reviewed. The product-limit method (Kaplan-Meier) was used to analyze survival rate and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: One patient was excluded from survival analysis because of incomplete record of tumor stage. The study population comprised 109 males and 81 females, median age 64 (range, 33–91) years. Curative resection was performed in 152 of these 190 patients (80 percent), including low anterior resection with coloproctostomy or coloanal anastomosis (n=103), abdominoperineal resection (n=44), Hartmann's procedure (n = 4), and pelvic exenteration (n=1). Mean follow-up of patients undergoing curative resection was 96±48 months. Palliative procedures were performed in 38 of 190 patients (20 percent). Perioperative mortality was 0.5 percent (1/190). Complications occurred in 64 patients (34 percent). The anastomotic leak rate was 4 percent (5/128). Disease-free five-year survival rate by pathologic stage was as follows: Stage I, 90 percent; Stage II, 85 percent; Stage III, 54 percent; Stage IV, 0 percent; and no residual tumor, 90 percent. Of the 152 patients treated with curative resection, disease-free survival rate was 80 percent at five years. Preoperative external beam radiation was administered to 135 of these 152 patients (89 percent). Tumor recurred in 32 of 152 patients (21 percent) treated with curative resection. The predominant pattern of recurrence was distant failure only. Kaplan-Meier overall local recurrence (local and local plus distant) at five years was 6.6 percent. The local recurrence rate paralleled tumor stage: Stage I, 0 percent; Stage II, 6 percent; Stage III, 20 percent; and no residual tumor, 0 percent. CONCLUSION: Preoperative external beam radiotherapy and attention to mesorectal dissection can achieve low local recurrence and excellent long-term survival rate in patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Moreover, these goals can be obtained with low morbidity and mortality.Dr. Ogunbiyi was supported in part by grants from the Ronald Raven Traveling Fellowship of the British Association of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Research Foundation International Traveling Fellowship, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Ethicon Foundation Traveling Fellowship.Presented at the meeting of the Missouri Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, June 18 to 19, 1999.     

Oncologic Results Following Abdominoperineal Resection for Adenocarcinoma of the Low Rectum

PURPOSE: The role of abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer has changed because of advances in sphincter-preserving surgery. Our aim was to evaluate the results of this operation in the five-year period following introduction of the concept of total mesorectal excision METHODS: Data on all patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection for very low rectal cancer between 1992 and 1997 were collected prospectively. All patients had had total mesorectal excision. Curative resection was defined as absence of macroscopic disease after resection and local recurrence as any infiltration or tumor identified in the pelvis, alone or combined with distant disease. Survival and local recurrence rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank analysis. RESULTS: Of 165 abdominoperineal resections performed, 106 were for primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. The male:female ratio was 50:56, with a median age of 65 (range, 33–85) years. There was one postoperative death. Twenty-seven patients received short-course preoperative radiotherapy (25 Gy over 1 week), whereas 22 had a longer course, with concomitant chemotherapy in 2. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in 29, postoperative radiotherapy in 4, and combined therapy in 8. After curative resection (n = 91), survival at five years was 76 percent and differed significantly by stage. Recurrence at any site was 7 percent (3/34) for Stage I, 27 percent (6/26) for Stage II, and 53 percent (16/31) for Stage III. Nine patients presented with local recurrence, with an overall rate at five years of 10 percent. Isolated locale recurrence was observed in only 5 percent of patients CONCLUSIONS: After abdominoperineal resection and total mesorectal excision, good rates of local control may be achieved provided surgical technique is meticulous.     

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery—Are we being honest with our patients?

PURPOSE: A survey was undertaken to assess the impact of laparoscopy on the practice of colorectal surgery. METHODS: A total of 1,520 questionnaires were mailed to all members of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons; 635 (42 percent) surgeons responded, 50 percent, and indicated that one questionnaire represented their entire group practice. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-eight (47 percent) respondents currently perform laparoscopic colorectal surgery; 62 percent (171) use the laparoscope for 20 percent of their bowel resections. Conversely, only 6 percent (16) use the laparoscope in over 50 percent of resections. The percentage of surgeons who perform various procedures were right colectomy, 78 percent; left colectomy, 57 percent; stoma creations, 52 percent; anterior resection, 44 percent; Hartmann's closure, 42 percent; abdominoperineal resection, 27 percent; rectopexy, 18 percent; and total colectomy, 14 percent. If the preoperative diagnosis is known to be carcinoma, 196 (71 percent) surgeons attempted laparoscopic colorectal surgery, but 55 percent of surgeons (108) operated only for early lesions and 35 percent (68) only for palliation. To enable the procedure to be laparoscopically performed, 87 percent (243) of surgeons stated that they have changed their practice to include routine use of ureteral stents (23 percent), preoperative colonoscopic marking of small lesions (40 percent), or intraoperative colonoscopy. Despite increased use of endoscopy, there were 18 patients in whom the wrong segment of colon was removed. Moreover, nine patients had early local recurrence after resection of colon cancer, nine had early local recurrence after rectal cancer resection, and five had early port-site recurrence. Although 255 (40 percent) surgeons surveyed would themselves undergo laparoscopic colorectal surgery for a rectal villous adenoma, only 38 (6 percent) would have a laparoscopic anterior resection for cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Several important problems exist including early port-site recurrence and a dual surgical standard. Although many surgeons are eager to practice laparoscopic colorectal surgery on their patients with carcinoma, they are reluctant to have the new technique applied to themselves.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Orlando, Florida, May 8 to 13, 1994.     

Prospective Comparison of Laparoscopic vs. Open Resections for Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Over a Ten-Year Period

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to define the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic resections for colorectal cancer. METHODS: We analyzed our experience via a prospective, nonrandomized, longitudinal cohort study. The period of study extended from April 1991 to May 2001. Laparoscopic resection was offered selectively in the absence of a large mass, invasion into abdominal wall or adjacent organs, and multiple prior abdominal operations. Every laparoscopic resection performed with curative intent for adenocarcinoma was included. Twenty percent of patients whose procedures were converted to open resection were included in the laparoscopic-resection group because of intention to treat. Oncologic outcome measures of this group were compared with a computerized, case-matched, open-resection group, the case-matching variables being age, gender, site of primary tumor (colon vs. rectum), and TNM stage. The laparoscopic-resection group was followed up prospectively, and data were updated regularly. The follow-up techniques consisted of a combination of office visits, telephone calls, and the United States Social Security Death Index database. RESULTS: The laparoscopic-resection group consisted of 172 patients with a mean age of 67 (range, 27–85) years. The open-resection group consisted of 172 patients with a mean age of 69 (range, 30–90) years. Mean follow-up was 52 (range, 3–128) months. Complete (100 percent) follow-up data were available. The TNM stage distribution was 63 Stage I (37 percent), 51 Stage II (30 percent), 47 Stage III (27 percent), and 11 Stage IV (6 percent) tumors for the laparoscopic-resection group and 65 Stage I (38 percent), 48 Stage II (28 percent), 51 Stage III (29 percent), and 8 Stage IV (5 percent) tumors for patients in the open-resection group (P = 0.75, not significant). Thirty-day mortality was 1.2 percent (2 deaths) in the laparoscopic-resection group and 2.4 percent (4 deaths) in the open-resection group (P > 0.05, not significant). Early and late complication incidences were comparable. Local recurrence was observed in three patients (1.7 percent) in the laparoscopic resection group with the primary tumor in the colon and in three patients (1.7 percent) with the primary tumor in the rectum, for a total incidence of local recurrence in the laparoscopy group of 3.5 percent (6 patients). In the open-resection group, local recurrence was observed in two patients (1.2 percent) among those with primary tumor site in the colon and in three patients (1.7 percent) in the group with primary tumor in the rectum, for a total incidence of local recurrence in the open-resection group of 2.9 percent (5 patients). One of the local recurrences in the laparoscopy group occurred in the port/extraction site, for an incidence of 0.6 percent. Metastasis occurred in 18 patients (10.5 percent) in the open group and in 21 (12.2 percent) in the laparoscopy group. Stage-for-stage overall five-year survival rates were similar in the two groups. The Kaplan-Meier statistical analysis performed for colonic vs. rectal primary adenocarcinoma confirmed that TNM stage for stage-overall survival was similar in the laparoscopic and open-resection groups (log-rank P = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Notwithstanding the drawbacks of a nonrandomized study, no adverse long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic resections for colorectal cancer were observed in a single centers experience during a ten-year period.     

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery for Cancer

PURPOSE: Since 1991, a laparoscopic-assisted resection has been used at the Royal Brisbane Hospital selectively for patients with colorectal cancer. This article audits the intermediate to long-term postoperative complications and cancer follow-up data. METHODS: All patients undergoing a laparoscopic resection for cancer were prospectively followed up with regard to long-term outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients have been studied. One hundred fifty-four patients had potentially curative procedures performed in the study period. Median follow up was 71 (range, 7–108) months. The overall recurrence rate in this group was 6 percent (21 recurrences). There was one port site recurrence after a potentially curative procedure (0.6 percent) and one port site recurrence after a palliative resection. Perioperative mortality was 1 percent (2 patients). Only six patients suffered an adhesive small-bowel obstruction postoperatively. There was one incisional hernia. Unadjusted five-year median survival data for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging A was 91 percent (3.5 percent recurrence); for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging B, 83 percent (15 percent recurrence); and for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging C, 74 percent (26 percent recurrence). CONCLUSION: In selected patients a laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer produces acceptable intermediate to long-term oncologic outcomes and a low long-term complication rate.     

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer: intermediate to long-term outcomes

PURPOSE: Since 1991, a laparoscopic-assisted resection has been used at the Royal Brisbane Hospital selectively for patients with colorectal cancer. This article audits the intermediate to long-term postoperative complications and cancer follow-up data. METHODS: All patients undergoing a laparoscopic resection for cancer were prospectively followed up with regard to long-term outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients have been studied. One hundred fifty-four patients had potentially curative procedures performed in the study period. Median follow up was 71 (range, 7-108) months. The overall recurrence rate in this group was 6 percent (21 recurrences). There was one port site recurrence after a potentially curative procedure (0.6 percent) and one port site recurrence after a palliative resection. Perioperative mortality was 1 percent (2 patients). Only six patients suffered an adhesive small-bowel obstruction postoperatively. There was one incisional hernia. Unadjusted five-year median survival data for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging A was 91 percent (3.5 percent recurrence); for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging B, 83 percent (15 percent recurrence); and for Australian Clinico-pathological Staging C, 74 percent (26 percent recurrence). CONCLUSION: In selected patients a laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer produces acceptable intermediate to long-term oncologic outcomes and a low long-term complication rate.     

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.     

Wound recurrence following conventional treatment of colorectal cancer

Reports of trocar and extraction site tumor recurrences following laparoscopic colectomy raise concern that such recurrences may be occurring more frequently with laparoscopic compared with open colectomy. Contemporary data on the incidence of incisional recurrence following open colectomy, in the age of adjuvant therapies, are not available. PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to examine the incidence and clinical features of wound recurrence in current prospective trials including 1,711 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum treated for cure. METHODS: Files of all patients with recurrence (n=623) were reviewed. Each site of recurrence was recorded separately. All patients have been followed prospectively, and 3-year and 4-year data are mature on 100 and 70 percent, respectively. Stage at diagnosis was B2 in 344 patients and C in 1,367 patients (>4 nodes positive in 346 patients). RESULTS: Recurrence was identified in 623 patients (36.4 percent) and occurred at a mean of 1.5 years following primary treatment. Eleven patients (0.6 percent) had documented incisional recurrences (9 abdominal wound, 1 perineal wound, and 1 stoma wound). Only four were diagnosed clinically, and the remaining seven were diagnosed incidentally at reoperation. Of 11 patients with incisional wound recurrences, 2 had primary Stage B2 and 9 had primary Stage C disease. Nine of 11 patients were found to have multiple sites of recurrence at time of recurrence. At a mean follow-up of 1.8 years after recurrence, 3 of 11 patients are alive with disease, although 8 have died because of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Incisional recurrence is uncommon, although likely underestimated, following conventional treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Its occurrence is usually a harbinger of diffuse intra-abdominal disease. These data may provide useful information for investigations of laparoscopic approaches to colon cancer.     

Rectal cancer

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the local recurrence rate and prognostic factors for local recurrence in patients undergoing curative anterior or abdominoperineal resections without radiotherapy. METHODS: From January 1980 to December 1996, 514 consecutive patients underwent curative resections for rectal cancer. We excluded those with preoperative radiotherapy (n=23), postoperative radiotherapy (n=27), local resection (n=36), and 11 (2.1 percent) patients who died postoperatively. The remaining 417 patients (249 males) with a median age of 64 (range, 21–90) years were analyzed. For upper third lesions, mesorectal tissue was excised down to at least 5 cm below the tumor. Total mesorectal excision was performed for lower and middle tumors. Postoperative chemotherapy was limited to patients with Stage III lesions. Median follow-up (and 95 percent confidence interval) was (5.2 4.3–5.9) years, with 87.7 percent of patients followed up longer than 24 months. Local recurrence was defined as any recurrence within the field of resection, regardless of the presence or absence of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Five-year local recurrence rate(and 95 percent confidence interval) was 9.7 (6.4–13) percent, with a median time to diagnosis of 15 (10–23) months. Local recurrence rates in Stages I, II, and III were: 3.1, 4.1, and 24.1 percent, respectively (P < 0.0001). In relation to node status, local recurrence rates were N0, 4.1 (1.7–6.5) percent; N1, 12.6 (4.6–20.6) percent; N2, 32.1 (12.1–52.1) percent; and N3, 59.3 (22.5–96.1) percent; (P < 0.00001). Lower third tumors had a higher local recurrence rate than middle and upper third tumors: 17.9, 7.1, and 5.1 percent, respectively (P=0.002). Adjusted by stage, this difference was maintained only in Stage III tumors. Among lower tumors, those at 6 and 7 cm from the anal verge had a lower local recurrence rate than those below 6 cm (6.7vs. 26.2 percent, respectively;P=0.02). Accidental rectal perforation at or near the tumor site occurred in 12 cases (2.9 percent), showing a strong correlation with local recurrence (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed significant higher risk for lower third tumors (hazard ratio, 2.98) and positive nodes (hazard ratio, 4.78). CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate surgery without irradiation achieves excellent local control in N0 rectal cancers. Node metastasis, lower third localization (especially below 6 cm), and accidental rectal perforation at or near the tumor site are significantly associated with a higher local recurrence rate.     

Treatment and follow-up strategies in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma

The treatment and follow-up strategies of patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) were analyzed in 22 Finnish HNPCC families in systematic follow-up between 1983 and 1990. During the sevenyear study period metachronous colorectal neoplasia was diagnosed in 41 percent (15/37) of the patients treated by segmentai colonic resection and in 24 percent (4/17) of those treated by subtotal colectomy. Extracolonic carcinoma was diagnosed in 12 (30 percent) of the 40 patients during the long-term follow-up. The most common extracolonic malignancy was biliopancreatic carcinoma which accounted for all five cancer-related deaths in the whole series during the study period. It was concluded that subtotal colectomy is superior to hemicolectomy or segmental resection in HNPCC patients with colorectal carcinoma. A regular annual endoscopic follow-up of the residual rectum is still necessary, and surveillance for extracolonic cancers must be considered.This work was supported by the Finnish Cancer Society and the Foundation of Gastroenterological Research.     

Tumor Invasion of Lymph Node Capsules in Patients with Dukes C Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Purpose The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the microscopic findings of positive lymph nodes, especially focusing on capsular invasion, and the outcome after curative surgical resection of colorectal cancer. Methods We analyzed 480 positive lymph nodes from 155 consecutive patients with Stage III colorectal cancer to determine the frequency and significance of lymph node capsular invasion. Recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rates were assessed in the patients with and without lymph node capsular invasion. Results Between April 1995 and December 2000, 406 consecutive patients with primary colorectal cancer underwent curative resection. Regional lymph node metastases were present in 155 cases (38.2 percent). During the median follow-up period of 4.8 years, 41 patients (26.5 percent) developed recurrent disease and 28 patients died of cancer. Lymph node capsular invasion was detected in one or more lymph nodes from 75 cases (48.3 percent). The five-year recurrence-free rate was 56.1 percent in this group, whereas in the 80 patients without lymph node capsular invasion the rate was 88 percent (P<0.01). Features that were associated with recurrent disease were greater number of positive lymph nodes, venous invasion in primary tumor, infiltrative growth pattern of intranodal tumor, and presence of lymph node capsular invasion. Multivariate analysis identified lymph node capsular invasion as the only significant prognostic factor for recurrence. In multivariate analysis with regard to survival, lymph node capsular invasion, venous invasion, and number of positive nodes remained as significant prognostic factors. Conclusions Lymph node capsular invasion, determined by routine hematoxylin-eosin staining, is a potent prognostic factor in Stage III colorectal cancer. Read in part at the meeting of The International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Budapest, Hungary, June 9, 2004. Reprints are not available.     

Does laparoscopicvs. Conventional surgery increase exfoliated cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity during resection of colorectal cancer?

PURPOSE: Traumatic manipulation of cancer specimens during laparoscopic colectomy may increase exfoliation of malignant cells into the peritoneal cavity, causing an early occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis or port-sites recurrence. Because of this concern, the routine use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy after laparoscopic colectomy for cancer was suggested recently. We assessed if laparoscopicvs. conventional surgery increases exfoliated malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity during resection of colorectal cancer. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized fashion, 38 colorectal cancer patients undergoing an elective, curative operation were assigned to either a conventional or laparoscopic procedure between June 1996 and May 1997. In either group (n=19), after the abdominal cavity was entered, saline was instilled into the peritoneal cavity, and the fluid was collected (Specimen 1). During surgery, all irrigating fluids were collected (Specimen 2). Both specimens were assessed for malignancy using four techniques: filtration process (ThinPrep®), smear, cell block, and immunochemistry using Ber-EP4. The change in the amount of tumor cells in both specimens was compared between surgical groups. A pilot study was performed to validate the proposed cytologic method. RESULTS: In the pilot study of 20 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer, postresectional peritoneal cytology was positive in six patients, including two Stage II (T3,N0,M0) patients. The pilot study also validated that our semiquantitative scoring system can be reliably used to assess the amount of free peritoneal cancer cells. In the main study, 16 right colectomies, 3 extended right colectomies, 17 proctosigmoidectomies, and 1 left colectomy were performed. The T and N stages were T1 (n=13), T2 (n=5), T3 (n=8), T4 (n=11); N0 (n=22), N1 (n=8), N2 (n=7). Malignant cells were not detected in any Specimens 1 or, more importantly, in Specimens 2 in either surgical group. CONCLUSION: When performed according to strict oncologic surgical principles, laparoscopic techniques in curative colorectal cancer surgery did not have an increased risk of intraperitoneal cancer cell spillage, compared with conventional techniques. We hope that these results can decrease some of the concerns about tumors cell spillage and seeding during laparoscopy.Supported by a grant from the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 22 to 26, 1997.     

Laparoscopic and Open Anterior Resection for Upper and Mid Rectal Cancer: An Evaluation of Outcomes

Purpose This study was designed to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic anterior resection with open operation for mid and upper rectal cancer. Methods A total of 265 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or open anterior resection for cancer of the mid and upper rectum from June 2000 to December 2004 were included. Data about the patients’ demographics, operative details, postoperative outcome, and disease status were collected prospectively. Comparison of the outcome between laparoscopic and open resection was performed. Results The median age of the 265 patients was 69 (range, 27–91) years, and laparoscopic anterior resection was performed in 98 patients (37 percent). There was no difference in the age, gender, comorbidities, and level of tumor between the two groups. The operating time was longer in the laparoscopic group (200 vs. 127 minutes; P < 0.01), but the blood loss was less (200 vs. 250 ml; P = 0.027). The overall operative mortality was 1.8 percent, and the complication rate was 27.9 percent. Significantly more patients with early diseases (Stage I and Stage II) were operated with laparoscopic approach. There was no difference in the mortality or morbidity between the two groups. Anastomotic leakage occurred in five patients with open resection and one with laparoscopic resection (P = 0.418). Patients with laparoscopic resection had an earlier return of bowel function and earlier resumption of diet as well as a shorter median hospital stay (7 vs. 8 days; P < 0.001). With the median follow-up of the surviving patients for 21.2 months, the three-year local recurrence rates for those with open and laparoscopic resection were 4.9 and 3.3 percent, respectively (P = 0.513). In patients with Stage I and Stage II disease, the three-year cancer-specific survivals for open and laparoscopic resection were 89.8 and 88.6 percent, respectively (P = 0.882), whereas those of patients with Stage III disease were 65.6 and 55.5 percent, respectively (P = 0.911). Conclusions Laparoscopic anterior resection for mid and proximal rectal cancer is a safe option with short-term advantages compared with open operation. The oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection were not compromised, with similar local recurrence rate and the cancer-specific survival rate as patients who underwent open resection. Presented at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 21 to 26, 2003.     

A case-control-study comparing laparoscopic versusopen surgery for rectosigmoidal and rectal cancer

This study compared laparoscopic with open surgery for the cure of cancer of the rectosigmoid and rectum. Results of surgery, postoperative recovery, and oncological follow-up were compared between 32 laparoscopic curative procedures (19 laparoscopic-assisted anterior resections for cancer of the rectosigmoid or upper rectum and 13 laparoscopic abdominoperineal resections for low rectal cancer) and 32 controls matched for age, UICC stage, tumor site, and type of resection who underwent open surgery during the same observation period. Morbidity was identical after laparoscopic and open resection (31.3%). Surgery was equally radical in the two groups regarding yield of lymph nodes and lateral and distal margins. Survival, recurrence, and cancer-related mortality showed no statistical differences. There was no port-site recurrence. The benefits of laparoscopic surgery were shown with a reduction in perioperative blood transfusion and earlier return of bowel function. However, the operative time was significantly increased in the laparoscopic group. This study shows that laparoscopic surgery for the cure of colorectal cancer is technically feasible, and that oncological short-term outcome does not differ from the results achieved by open techniques. However, prospective randomized trials are mandatory to evaluate the definite role of laparoscopic surgery for malignancy. Accepted: 26 April 1999     

Factors affecting local recurrence of colonic adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine which aspects of tumor morphology and histology influenced the incidence of local recurrence after curative resection of colonic adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Patients who had a curative resection for a primary colonic adenocarcinoma between 1980 and 1993 (inclusive) were identified from the colorectal cancer database in the Department of Colorectal Surgery. The charts of patients diagnosed with a local recurrence were then reviewed and their findings at operation and histologic assessment analyzed. Patients were followed up for at least five years or until death. RESULTS: Over the period of study, 1,031 patients had a curative resection for colonic adenocarcinoma. Local recurrences were detected in 32 patients (3.1 percent). The gender distribution of patients with local recurrence was 18 males (56.3 percent) and 14 females (43.7 percent) with a mean age of 63.4 years. The median time to local recurrence was 13 (range, 2–71) months. The distribution of primary tumors that recurred locally favored the cecum (n = 9; 28.1 percent) and sigmoid colon (n = 14; 43.7 percent) over other locations; these were, however, the most common sites of primary lesions. Less common sites included the ascending colon (n = 0; 0 percent), hepatic flexure (n = 2; 6.3 percent), transverse colon (n = 1; 3.1 percent), splenic flexure (n = 3; 9.4 percent), and descending colon (n = 3; 9.4 percent). Of the total number of tumors, 101 were found to be adherent to at least 1 other intra-abdominal viscus, and 12 (11.9 percent) recurred locally. Other factors associated with local recurrence were tumor perforation and fistulation. Overall, 30 tumors (2.9 percent) were perforated, and 6 (20 percent) recurred locally. Four tumors (0.4 percent) were fistulating; of these, 2 (50 percent) recurred locally. Advanced tumor stage was also associated with an increased rate of local recurrence (Stage I, 0 percent; Stage II, 2.05 percent; Stage III, 7.0 percent; and Stage IV, 6.1 percent). Similarly, tumor differentiation was related to local recurrence, with no instances in well-differentiated tumors, 2.8 percent in moderately differentiated tumors, and 6.8 percent in poorly differentiated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The location of the primary tumor is not a factor in producing local recurrence. Fixity to another viscus, perforation or fistulation, advanced stage of disease, and differentiation of tumor appear to increase the chances of recurrence of curatively resected colonic carcinoma. Although the recurrence rate is higher in these groups than for tumors overall, definitive oncologic surgery prevents recurrence in the majority of cases. No colonic tumor that was T1 or T2 (N0, N1, or N2) or that was well differentiated recurred locally.     

Laparoscopic colectomy: A critical appraisal

A multicenter retrospective study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of laparoscopy in colon and rectal surgery. To minimize potential bias in interpretation of the results, all data were registered with an independent observer, who did not participate in any of the surgical procedures. Sixty-six patients underwent a laparoscopic procedure. Operations performed included sigmoid colectomy (19), right hemicolectomy (15), low anterior resection (6), colectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) (5), and abdominoperineal resection (APR) (3). The conversion rate from laparoscopic colectomy to celiotomy was 41 percent. Major morbidity and mortality were 24 percent and 0 percent, respectively. Length of stay, hospital costs, and lymph node harvest were compared between the sigmoid resection and right hemicolectomy subgroups. Data from traditional sigmoid colectomies and right hemicolectomies were obtained from the same institutions for comparison. Mean postoperative stay for laparoscopically completed sigmoid and right colectomies was significantly less than that for either the converted or the traditional groups (P <0.02). Total hospital cost for traditional right hemicolectomy was significantly less than that for the converted group (P < 0.05) but not the laparoscopic group. Laparoscopic sigmoid resection showed no significant total hospital cost difference among traditional, converted, and laparoscopic groups. Lymph node harvest in resections for carcinoma was comparable in all groups. These preliminary data suggest that laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery can be accomplished with acceptable morbidity and mortality when performed by trained surgeons. Length of stay is shorter, but there is no proven total hospital cost benefit. Appropriate registries will be necessary to adequately assess long-term outcome.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Francisco, California, June 7 to 12, 1992. Winner of the William C. Bernstein, M.D. Award of the Midwest Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.