Locoregional recurrence (non hepatic abdominal recurrence) of rectal cancer

Thirty percent of deaths are related to locoreional recurrence. All patients with nonhepatic abdominal recurrence (NHAR) were considered as having locoregional failure. The aims of this study are firstly to retrospectively evaluate the results of potentially curative resection and palliative treatment modalities for a group of 25 patients with NHAR from rectal cancer. The second aim is to determine the effectiveness of R1 resection in these patients in terms of survival. In this study we have followed 25 patients with NHAR of which 10 were able to undergo potentially curative salvage resection, whilst the remaining 15 had either a palliative (R2) or no resection. The goals of treatment for recurrent rectal cancer are palliation of symptoms, a good quality of life, and if possible, cure with a low rate of treatment--related complications. Indications for salvage surgery depend on several factors including the extent of disease, the presence of concomitant illness and the surgeons experience. Systemic disease, systemic disease with peritoneal implants, multiple hepatic metastases, or extensive pelvic involvement preclude surgical treatment for cure. Curative and noncurative surgical procedures were performed width acceptable complications in the series presented hereThe mean survival for the group undergoing R0 resection was 50 months versus 55 months for the group undergoing R1 resection (not significant). Mean survival were 7,3 and 6 months in the groups undergoing R2, NR and NS respectively. The 5-year survival for the 10 patients who had potentially curative resection was 30 per cent versus 0 per cent for 15 patients who had non-curative procedures (p = 0.001). There was 1 post-operative 30 day mortality in the series of 19 patients who underwent surgery. Five patients (6 per cent) developed one or more post-operative complications. Two of them required reoperation.