Curative surgery improves the survival of patients with perforating colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancers that manifest as a perforation are generally regarded as carrying a poor prognosis. We conducted this study to assess the outcome of colorectal cancer complicated by perforation.

Between 1996 and 2004, 848 patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancers in our department. We reviewed 22 (2.6%) consecutive patients who presented with perforation at one institution.

Fifteen (69%) patients underwent potentially curative resection. The overall operative morbidity and mortality rates were 50% and 9%. The overall 5-year survival rate was 17.4%, although by excluding patients who either had stage IV disease at diagnosis or who died during or soon after surgery (n = 7), the 5-year survival rate increased to 32% (n = 15). Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate of patients who underwent a potentially curative resection (36.9%) was significantly better than that of those who underwent a noncurative resection (0%, P = 0.0093).

Perforating colorectal cancers are associated with high postoperative mortality and poor long-term survival. However, the intensive management of radical lymph node dissection and surgical resection are recommended to improve the long-term prognosis.