[Results of the surgical therapy in advanced colorectal cancer]

In every 7th patient with colorectal cancer tumor has already spread beyond intestinal wall into surrounding organs.

Between 01. 01. 1990 and 31. 12. 1998 763 patients with colorectal cancer were treated at our surgical department. 166 patients (23 %) presented with tumor contiguous or adherent to adjacent organs (cT4).

In most cases tumor was localized in colon (109 patients, 66 %), in 57 patients (34 %) tumor was found in rectum. Potenzial curative resection (R0) was possible in 67 patients (40 %). 66 patients (40 %) had microscopic (R1) or gro beta residual disease (R2) and in 33 patients only palliative surgery was possible. Extended resection of adjacent organs was performed in 97 % in the group with curative resection. 11 patients (8 %) died after multivisceral resection. The 5-year survival for curative resection was 57 %, for patients with microscopic or gro beta residual disease 9 months and for palliative surgery only 4 months.

Optimistic longterm results in advanced colorectal cancer can only be achieved after curative resection. After incomplete resection or palliative surgery median life expectancy is extremely poor.