Intra-abdominal metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung

The case of a 56-year old male with an intra-abdominal metastasis from a primary lung cancer is presented. He was admitted for abdominal obstruction, toxic syndrome and paraumbilical pain. He had a previous history of squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung, for which he had undergone a right upper lobectomy in 1995, four years prior to the development of the abdominal obstruction. A debulking operation and bowel resection for the intestinal metastasis was performed. Eleven months after this operation the patient developed a recurrence: he underwent another debulking operation with resection of the sigmoid colon, jejunal segment and a small part of the bladder. The patient is alive and well 13 months after the initial operation. Intra-abdominal metastases of bronchial carcinoma may be observed with greater frequency, because of the improved survival of the patients with lung cancer. Metastatic small bowel carcinomas are rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal syndromes of patients with known history of the lung cancer. Bowel resection and debulking of the metastatic tumour mass give the best palliation and improve short-term survival.     

The current role of mediastinoscopy in the evaluation of thoracic disease.

OBJECTIVE: Mediastinoscopy is a common procedure used for the diagnosis of thoracic disease and the staging of lung cancer. We sought to determine the current role of mediastinoscopy in the evaluation of thoracic disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all mediastinoscopies performed by members of our service between January 1988 and September 1998. RESULTS: We performed mediastinoscopies on 2137 patients. A total of 1745 patients underwent mediastinoscopy for known or suspected lung cancer. In 422 of these procedures, N2 or N3 disease was identified; only 28 of these patients underwent resection. The remaining 1323 had no evidence of metastatic disease. In these patients 947 had lung cancer. Only 76 of the patients with lung cancer were found to have N2 disease at exploration. Among the 1323 patients with a negative mediastinoscopy result, 52 underwent resection of a nonbronchogenic malignancy, and 217 had resection of a benign lesion. A total of 392 patients underwent mediastinoscopy for the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy in the absence of any identifiable pulmonary lesion. Of these, 161 had a nonbronchogenic malignancy, 209 had benign disease, and 25 had no diagnosis established; mediastinoscopy established a definitive diagnosis in 93.6% of patients. In the entire group of 2137 patients, there were 4 perioperative deaths and 12 complications. Only one death was directly attributed to mediastinoscopy. No deaths or complications occurred in patients undergoing mediastinoscopy for benign disease. CONCLUSIONS: Mediastinoscopy is a highly effective and safe procedure. We believe that mediastinoscopy should currently be used routinely in the diagnosis and staging of thoracic diseases.     

Abdominal malignancies missed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND: We present our experience with intra-abdominal malignancies different from gallbladder cancer not diagnosed preoperatively and undiscovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy METHODS: This study involved retrospective analysis of 10 patients hospitalized in the Second Department of General Surgery between 1993 and 2000. In all of them, laparoscopic cholecystectomy had been performed between one week and 21 months earlier. RESULTS: Primary or metastatic neoplasms were diagnosed in five men and five women patients ages 38 to 79 years. In three patients with colorectal cancer, a radical resection was possible. Nonresectable pancreatic cancer was found in three patients. In one of two patients with gastric cancer, palliative, distal gastrectomy was performed. In a patient who had small bowel cancer with metastasis to the ovary, a radical operation was possible. In one patient, liver metastasis from lung cancer was found. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with atypical symptoms of gallbladder lithiasis, a thorough workup before laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed. During the laparoscopic procedure, a detailed examination of the whole peritoneal cavity is essential. In cases of prolonged convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a source of symptoms different from cholelithiasis should be suspected.     

Small bowel metastases from primary lung carcinoma: a rarity waiting to be found?

Isolated, small bowel metastases from lung carcinoma are extremely rare; only 34 cases have been previously reported. Rarer still is the presentation of lung carcinoma with a lesion metastatic to the small bowel. These 34 cases and 3 recent ones from Easton Hospital (Easton, PA) were analyzed to clarify the clinical and pathologic features of the disease. The majority of patients had a history of abdominal pain (86%), melena (23%), or nausea and vomiting (26%). Few had weight loss (16%). Twenty-one patients (57%) came to the hospital with perforation and peritonitis, including 9 in whom lung carcinoma was undiagnosed before laparotomy. Thirteen patients (34%) underwent laparotomy because of small bowel obstruction, 2 (6%) for bleeding and 1 (3%) for a mass found during work-up. Squamous cell (49%) and large cell (22%) were the most common cell types, and the jejunum was the most common site of the metastases (79%). Survival time was dismal (mean 51 days) and was unaffected by therapy to the primary site of the cancer or its metastases. The authors conclude that small bowel metastases from lung carcinoma are not uncommon and may be seen more frequently as patients live longer after their diagnosis of cancer. Small bowel metastases must be considered in any patient with both lung carcinoma and abdominal pain, and should be expected in patients with both lung carcinoma and an acute abdomen.     

Metastatic melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Results of surgical management.

Between 1954 and 1989, 41 patients with melanoma metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract underwent surgical treatment at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The small bowel was most commonly involved (71%), followed by the stomach (27%), large bowel (22%), and esophagus (5%). Gross total excision of all intra-abdominal metastases was performed in 52% of patients. The postoperative mortality was 5% and the median patient survival was 0.8 years, with 1- and 5-year survival rates of 44% and 9%, respectively. Of the patient, tumor, and treatment variables evaluated, patients with small-intestinal metastases had a significantly worse prognosis. Although patients with melanoma metastatic to the bowel have a limited life expectancy, surgical resection of their metastases provides effective palliation. Operative treatment of selected patients with symptomatic melanoma metastatic to the gastrointestinal tract is a worthwhile undertaking.     

Surgical treatment of pulmonary metastases from colon and rectal cancer

We retrospectively studied the surgical treatment for pulmonary metastases from colon and rectal cancer. A total of 24 patients (9 males and 15 females; mean age 61 years) underwent 29 thoracotomies for metastatic colon carcinoma, while 22 patients (16 males and 6 females; mean age 63 years) underwent 29 thoracotomies for metastatic rectal cancer. The median interval between the primary procedure and lung resection for metastases was 26 months in the patients with colon carcinoma and 32 months in the patients with rectal cancer. In the patients with colon carcinoma, 16 underwent wedge resection or segmentectomy (including 4 video-assisted procedures) and 13 (54%) underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy. In the patients with rectal cancer, 15 underwent wedge or segmentectomy (including 1 video-assisted procedure), 13 (59%) underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy, and 1 underwent exploratory thoracotomy. All procedures except exploratory thoracotomy were curative operations. There was no mortality. Overall 5-year survival was 56% (n=46). Five-year survival was 65% for patients with colon metastases (n=24) and 45% for patients with rectal metastases (n=22), and there was no significant difference. Recurrent sites were 4 lungs (36%), 4 livers (36%), 1 bone, 1 uterus, and 1 peritoneum in patients with colon carcimoma, and 10 lungs (43%), 5 brains (22%), 3 livers (13%), 1 bone, and 1 vagina in patients with rectal cancer. Pulmonary resection for metastases from colon carcinoma may have better prognosis than that from rectal cancer. However, further investigation may be required to obtain convincing conclusions.     

Gastrointestinal metastasis from primary lung cancer

Aim: Although gastrointestinal metastasis from primary lung cancer is uncommon, the incidence may increase due to widespread application of chemotherapy and positron emission tomography scan. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence and characteristics of patients with gastrointestinal metastasis from primary lung cancer. Methods: All patients with curative pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer from January 1994 to December 2006 were reviewed. A total of 10 patients (0.3%) who had gastrointestinal metastases from primary lung cancer were included. Results: Eight patients had small bowel metastases and two had gastric metastases. All eight patients who had small bowel metastases underwent emergency laparotomy. Two gastric metastases were diagnosed via endoscopy. None of them survived more than 3 months after diagnosis. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal metastasis from primary lung cancer is uncommon and its prognosis is poor. Extensive bowel resection and reconstruction are not recommended.     

Three pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from hepatocellular carcinoma

We describe a patient who underwent pulmonary resection three times for metastatic lung cancer from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A 56-year-old man, who had a past history of right hepatic lobectomy for HCC, was referred to our department with an abnormal finding on chest computed tomography (CT). Chest CT showed three abnormal shadows, in the right upper lobe (S3b), right middle lobe (S5), and right lower lobe (S10), respectively, and there was no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. He underwent surgical resections (right upper lobectomy and partial resections) for the metastatic lung cancer from HCC. Subsequently, 12 and 16 months after the first pulmonary resection, metastatic lung cancer recurred, in right S6 and S9, respectively. Because there was no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence and because of the feasibility of curative resection, we performed partial pulmonary resections. He had no postoperative morbidity, and is alive with no evidence of disease 60 months after the first pulmonary resection. Twelve cases of repeat pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC have been reported in the literature, and the authors of these reports described that repeated pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC resulted in long-term survival. Repeat pulmonary resections for metastatic lung cancer from HCC can be an effective treatment for patients with such metastases.     

Sequential resection of lung metastasis following partial hepatectomy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Multiple organ metastases from colorectal carcinoma may be considered incurable, but long survival after both liver and lung resection for metastases has been reported. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 48 patients who underwent lung resection for metastatic colorectal cancer between 1992 and 1999 was undertaken. Twenty-seven patients had lung metastasis alone, 15 had previous partial hepatectomy, and six had previous resection of local or lymph node recurrence. The relationship of clinical variables to survival was assessed. Survival was calculated from the time of first pulmonary resection. RESULTS: Five-year survival rates after resection of lung metastasis were 73 per cent in patients without preceding recurrence, 50 per cent following previous partial hepatectomy and zero after resection of previous local recurrence. Independent prognostic variables that significantly affected survival after thoracotomy were primary tumour histology and type of preceding recurrence. There was no significant difference in survival after lung resection between patients who had sequential liver and lung resection versus those who had lung resection alone. CONCLUSION: Sequential lung resection after partial hepatectomy for metastatic colorectal cancer may lead to long-term survival.     

Surgical strategy in the management of non-small cell ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome.

BACKGROUND. Non-small cell ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is a rare cause of hypercortisolism that may require surgery for either curative resection or palliative adrenalectomy. METHODS. We report our surgical experience with 41 patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome and no evidence of small cell lung cancer at initial evaluation. RESULTS. All 41 patients had documented hypercortisolism secondary to ectopic production of ACTH. Based on imaging study results, we determined that 21 patients had localized/resectable disease; eight patients had metastatic disease, and 12 patients had occult disease at examination. Of the 21 patients with localized disease, 16 (76%) were cured of ectopic ACTH by surgery (15 bronchial carcinoid, one pheochromocytoma). Patients with bronchial carcinoid had the greatest probability for cure of ectopic ACTH syndrome, and patients with thoracic primary tumor were more likely to be cured than patients with abdominal primaries. Of the eight patients who had metastatic disease, none were cured of the disease; five patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy, and three patients were given medical therapy. Only one patient was alive after 5 years. Of the 12 patients who had occult disease, four patients were eventually cured of the disease (three bronchial carcinoid, one thymic carcinoid); one patient died of disease (small cell lung cancer), and seven patients still have occult disease. Nine of 12 patients with occult disease underwent bilateral adrenalectomy for surgical management of hypercortisolism. CONCLUSIONS. This study suggests that the most common primary focus of ectopic ACTH production is within the thorax with 25 of 34 (74%) identifiable tumors originating within either the thymus or bronchus. Adrenalectomy offers excellent palliation of hypercortisolism secondary to either occult or metastatic disease. Patients who initially have localized disease usually have bronchial carcinoids and have a high probability of cure with surgical resection (81%).     

Incurable colorectal carcinoma: the role of surgical palliation

About 20 per cent of patients with carcinoma of the colon or rectum present with metastatic disease. Surgeons are frequently asked to consider resection or other operative procedures in these patients for palliation. We performed this review to determine whether patients presenting with known metastatic colorectal cancer derive benefit from surgical intervention. We performed a retrospective review of all patients with M1 carcinoma of the colon or rectum who were identified from the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Registry from April 1985 through February 2003. Patients who underwent hepatic and/or pulmonary resection with curative intent were excluded from analysis, as were patients with metachronous metastases. Eighty patients with M1 colorectal cancer who did not undergo surgery with curative intent were identified, and in 74 of these, complete medical records and follow-up were available. Forty-nine of the 74 patients (66%) underwent an operation, and 25 were managed nonoperatively. Indications for surgery included bowel obstruction, active hemorrhage, severe anemia from gastrointestinal bleeding with requirement for blood transfusions, intractable pain, and perforation of the colon. Average survival was 11.2 months for operative patients versus 6.5 months for nonoperative patients (P < 0.05). Thirty-six patients who underwent resectional procedures had a postoperative hospitalization of 7.5 days and a median survival of 11.5 months. Thirteen patients who had a nonresectional procedure had an average postoperative stay of 9 days and a median survival of 4 months. Median survival in those who did not undergo an operation was 4.8 months. Although metastatic colorectal carcinoma cannot usually be cured by surgical intervention, many patients who present with metastatic disease will benefit from palliative operations with relatively short hospitalizations and reasonable survival. Those who are not candidates for resection of the primary tumor have shorter survival times. Surgery can alleviate many of the distressing symptoms in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.     

Colonic metastasis from primary carcinoma of the lung. Case report

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in Western countries. About one-half of patients with lung cancer have metastatic disease at the time of initial diagnosis. Metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract from primary lung cancer has rarely been described. The most common metastatic site is the small bowel whereas large bowel secondary lesions are very rare. The majority of patients are referred to a surgeon only after the intestinal secondary lesion becomes symptomatic posing a threat to the patient's life. Although the outcome is still unfavourable, the development of chemotherapy and of surgical techniques allows aggressive treatment when facing a single intestinal metastasis from lung cancer. We report on a case of a patient who came to our observation for a neoplastic stenosis of the descending colon with a single liver secondarism. Histology proved both lesions to be metastases of primitive adenocarcinoma of the lung.     

Stapled versus hand sewn anastomoses in patients with small bowel injury: a changing perspective

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies indicate that trauma patients with hollow viscus injuries requiring anastomosis who are managed with stapling have a higher rate of complications than do those in whom a hand-sewn anastomosis is used. We undertook this study to determine whether this finding applied to patients with small bowel trauma at our institution. METHODS: Records of patients with small bowel injuries were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, severity of injury, injury management, and outcome data were collected. RESULTS: Patients who had their small bowel injuries managed by hand-sewn repair versus resection and stapled anastomosis demonstrated a nonsignificant decrease in overall complication rate (35% vs. 44%) and rate of intra-abdominal complication (10% vs. 18%). Yet the rate of intra-abdominal abscess formation was significantly lower with hand-sewn repair than with resection and stapled anastomosis (4% vs. 13%). However, when hand-sewn primary repairs were excluded from the analysis and injuries that required resection and either stapled or hand-sewn anastomosis were compared, there was a similar overall complication rate (41% vs. 41%) and rate of intra-abdominal complications (17% vs. 21%). CONCLUSION: The rate of intra-abdominal complications did not differ significantly between patients requiring small bowel resection and reanastomosis managed by either a stapled or hand-sewn technique. In our experience, surgical stapling devices appear to be safe for use in repairing traumatic small bowel injury.     

Gastrointestinal stromal sarcomas

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal sarcomas are a rare group of malignancies originating in the bowel wall. METHODS: The treatment of 12 patients with gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma who underwent operation between 1994 and 1998 was reviewed. RESULTS: Eight tumours originated in the stomach; others were in the small bowel or rectum. Five of the tumours were of myogenic origin, two were gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumours, one was a mixed neural-myoid tumour, and four could not be differentiated. Complete resection was possible in ten patients; in two of the ten en bloc resection of adjacent organs was required to ensure adequate margins. The tumours in the remaining two patients were irresectable because of diffuse intra-abdominal metastatic disease. All patients who underwent complete resection were alive after 4-48 (median 14) months. Two of the ten patients developed recurrence, which was reresected completely. The patients with metastatic disease died less than 1 year after operation. CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgical resection, achieving complete resection, can lead to prolongation of life and may be a potential cure for patients with gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma.     

Lung resection for bronchogenic carcinoma after pneumonectomy: a safe and worthwhile procedure.

OBJECTIVES: Patients treated surgically for lung cancer can develop either a metachronous cancer or a recurrence. The appearance of a new cancer on the remaining lung after a pneumonectomy poses unique treatment problems, and surgery is often considered contraindicated. We report on the outcome of resections for lung cancer after pneumonectomy performed for lung cancer. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients who underwent a resection of bronchogenic carcinoma on the remaining lung from 1990 to 2002. RESULTS: There were 14 patients (13 males and 1 female) with a median age of 64 years (range 51-74). Median preoperative Fev1 was 1.45 (range 1.35-2.23), corresponding to 59% of predicted Fev1 (range 46-80%). Resection was performed between 11 and 264 months after pneumonectomy (median 35.5). The resections performed were: one wedge resection in 11 patients, two wedge resections in two patients and two segmentectomies in two other patients; one patient underwent a third resection. Diagnosis was metachronous cancer in 12 patients and metastasis in two patients. Complications occurred in three patients (21%), while operative mortality was nil. Mean hospital stay was 10.5 days (6-25). Two patients received chemotherapy (one after local recurrence, one after the third resection). Overall 1, 3 and 5 year survivals were 57, 46 and 30%, respectively (median 21 months). For patients with a metachronous cancer they were 69, 55 and 37% (median 57 months), respectively, while neither patient with a metastatic tumor survived 1 year (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Limited lung resection on a single lung is a safe procedure associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. In patients with a metachronous lung cancer, long-term survival with a good quality of life can be obtained with limited resection on the residual lung.     

Surgical Management and Outcome in Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Small Bowel

Background Primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel is a rare malignancy and is associated with poor survival outcome. Patient, tumor and treatment-related factors were analyzed for their association with recurrence and survival. Methods Between 1971 and 2005, 64 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel were treated at our institution. Clinico-pathologic data, operative details, postoperative treatment, recurrence pattern and survival were reviewed. Results The most common clinical features at presentation included abdominal pain (n = 33; 51.6%) or bowel obstruction (n = 20; 31.3%). The most frequently involved portion of the small bowel was the duodenum (n = 41; 64%). A segmental bowel resection was performed in 30 patients and pancreaticoduodenectomy in 14 patients. Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 3.6% (n = 2) and 14.5% (n = 8), respectively. Of the 55 patients who underwent operative intervention, a curative resection was performed in 30 (54.5%). The most common sites of recurrence following a curative resection were the liver and lung. Median survival for all 64 patients was 18 months with a 5-year survival of 21.1%. On multivariate analysis, absence of distant metastatic disease (5-year survival 30.4%), curative resection (5-year survival 44.8%) and pathological T stage 1-3 (5-year survival 39.2%) were identified as independent predictors of survival. Conclusions A curative resection in the absence of both distant metastases and pathological T4 tumor provides the best survival outcome. Recurrence at distant sites is the predominant pattern of failure following a curative resection, suggesting a role for adjuvant therapy.     

Small Bowel Perforation Caused by Metastasis from an Extra-Abdominal Malignancy: Report of Three Cases

Small bowel perforation is rarely caused by metastasis from an extra-abdominal malignancy. This report describes three cases of small bowel perforation that occurred secondary to a metastatic tumor. The first case involved a 72-year-old man with malignant lymphoma of the larynx that had been treated with chemo- and radiation therapy; the second involved a 70-year-old man with rhabdomyosarcoma of the mediastinum that had been treated with radiation therapy; and the third involved a 41-year-old man with lung carcinoma that had been treated with surgery 10 months prior to perforation. Each patient presented with acute abdominal pain, had X-ray findings of free air in the abdomen, and underwent limited emergency surgery. Wedge resection and closure of the ileum was performed for the first patient and partial bowel resection with the creation of an intestinal stoma was performed for the second and third patients. In each case, the histologic findings of the resected specimens were consistent with the extra-abdominal primary tumors. Although the patients recovered sufficiently to begin eating and moving about, all three died of cancer or cancer-related complications within 45 days of surgery. We conclude that surgeons should be aware of the poor prognosis of such patients and perform only the minimal surgery required. Received: April 7, 2000 / Accepted: September 26, 2000     

Pulmonary Resection for Colorectal Cancer Metastases: Duration Between Cancer Onset and Lung Metastasis as an Important Prognostic Factor

Background  Pulmonary resection is the most effective treatment available for colorectal lung metastases. However, the characteristics of those patients most likely to benefit from surgical resection have not yet been adequately clarified. We have made a critical analysis for the potential prognostic factors and their clinical significance in lung metastasis from colorectal cancer. Methods  We analyzed 63 consecutive patients who underwent curative pulmonary resection for colorectal lung metastases at National Taiwan University Hospital from January 1997 to December 2006. Median follow-up was 37.3 (range 12–122) months. Disease-free and overall survival rates were evaluated by Kaplan–Meier analysis, and multivariate analyses of various prognostic characteristics were performed. Results  Overall 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates were 43.9% and 19.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the interval for development of lung metastases from primary colorectal cancer and the mode of operation were the only two independent prognostic factors for survival. With regard to disease-free survival, the interval between initial resection of colorectal cancer and following lung metastases was the only significant independent prognostic factor. Besides, subset analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate in repeated resection group for recurrence of colorectal metastasis in residual lung was 85.7%. Conclusion  Pulmonary resection, initial or even repeated resection for metastatic tumor from colorectal cancer should be encouraged for selected patients as it can significantly improve survival. Patients who have lung metastases within 1 year after primary tumor resection and those who do not undergo anatomical resection for metastatic lung tumor should be followed more carefully due to poor prognosis.     

放射性肠炎并发急性肠梗阻的临床特点及治疗

目的:探讨放射性肠炎并发急性肠梗阻的临床特点和治疗方法.方法:对2006年10月-2011年3月收治的25例放射性肠炎并发急性肠梗阻病例的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果:患者入院后均实施肠梗阻导管肠道减压及积极营养支持等非手术治疗,急症病情得到缓解后,经导管行选择性泛影葡胺小肠造影,显示梗阻部位的病理变化.全组24例接受了手术治疗,术中显示放射性损伤以盆腔和回肠为著,器官之间和肠袢之间界限不清,甚至相互融合形似冰冻状;13例行病变肠袢切除肠吻合术,10例行回肠-结肠短路吻合术,1例行右半结肠切除术,21例同时行小肠内置管排列术;1例行非手术治疗后梗阻解除.除1例肠切除患者术后因腹腔和肺部感染死亡外,全组96.0％ (24/25)获得治愈.23例随访6～24个月,远期有效率为95.7％( 22/23).结论:放射性肠炎并发急性肠梗阻采用恰当的非手术治疗可将急症手术转变为限期或择期手术,病变肠袢切除或肠短路吻合术联合小肠内置管排列术是较好的手术方式.     

Metachronous common iliac lymph node metastasis after rectosigmoid colon cancer resection: A case report

Introduction and importanceMetastases to common iliac lymph nodes from cancer of the rectosigmoid are extremely rare. We report a patient with a right common iliac lymph node metastasis after rectosigmoid cancer resection.Case presentationThe patient is a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with rectosigmoid cancer (Stage IIIc) who underwent laparoscopic resection followed by 8 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine. Sixteen months after resection, an intra-abdominal mass and a left lung nodule were found on computed tomography scans, which were suspected to be recurrences. Exploratory laparoscopy showed that the abdominal lesion was an enlarged common iliac lymph node, which was completely excised. No other intraabdominal recurrences were found. Subsequently, a left upper lobe lung metastasis was resected thoracoscopically. However, multiple lung metastases developed four months after the lung resection, and systemic therapy was begun.Clinical discussionA lower incidence of lateral lymph node metastases from cancer in the rectosigmoid has been reported. Direct lymphatic pathways from the sigmoid colon or rectosigmoid to lateral lymph nodes have been suspected, which may be associated with the poor prognosis in this patient.ConclusionA metachronous metastasis to a common iliac lymph node from primary rectosigmoid cancer is reported. Common iliac lymph node metastases from rectosigmoid cancer might have more malignant potential, and should be treated in the same manner as peri-aortic lymph node metastases.