Locoregionally advanced rectosigmoid cancer: diagnosis, surgical approach, late results

The colorectal cancer continues to be diagnosed in advanced stages in our country, mainly due to unapplying of a programmer of active diagnosis through screening on the population with risk for colorectal cancer, and inefficiency of primary care system. In the department of General Surgery CFR Craiova Hospital between 1991-2001 were operated a number of 231 patients with colon cancer and 104 patients with rectal cancer. The results, showing an increased number of recurrences in cases of resection performed for advanced loco-regional tumors of rectosigmoid, made us to reconsider the attitude of avoiding the abdominoperineal resection even when the distance between the inferior limits of the tumors and the anal edge exceeded the distance considered being standard for a low anastomosis performing. The follow-up of the patients with paraclinic technique that didn't prove efficient led in the most cases to a delaying in diagnosis of local recurrences until the moment of resectability was exceeded. The applying of efficient methods in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and follow-up could provide in the future better results for anterior resections with low anastomosis.