[Rectal carcinoma. Analysis of 10-year results]

Between 1974 and 1979 139 patients with rectal cancer have been operated. Operative mortality was 14.4%. The fate of all patients was followed during 10 to 16 years. 46.8% of of patients died from recurrencies and metastases after a medium of 27.5 months. 3.6% died from another malignancy, 15.8% from other unrelated diseases. The 10-year survival rate is 22.3%; 19.4% of all patients are still alive with a mean survival time of 155 months. Prognosis depends mainly on tumour stage. No patient with recurrencies or metastases survived 10 years or longer.