Follow-up and recurrence of T1 colorectal cancer

This study was performed to clarify the clinical and pathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer. From 1987 to 2003, a total of 223 patients with T1 colorectal cancer were treated at our institute. Disease recurrence occurred in eight (3%) of these cases. The original sites of cancer were the ascending colon (n = 1), sigmoid colon (n = 2), and rectum (n = 5). We performed three local resections per anus and five bowel resections with lymph node dissection. In cases showing recurrence after resection, lymph node metastasis was observed more frequently (four of five cases; 80%) compared with the cases showing no recurrence (11%). The average recurrence time was <36 months in seven of the eight cases (88%). Local recurrence occurred in five of the eight cases (63%). We conclude that careful follow-up is necessary in cases of T1 colorectal cancer in the first 3 years after treatment.