[Clinicopathological studies and patterns of recurrence of mucinous colorectal carcinoma with curative resection]

In 771 cases of Stage II and III colorectal carcinoma with curative resection, clinicopathological characteristics, recurrent rate, patterns of recurrence, and prognosis of 24 cases (3%) of mucinous carcinoma were compared with those of 725 cases (94%) of well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Compared with well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, mucinous carcinoma was found to be larger in tumor size, more severe lymphatic invasion, and a greater likelihood of Stage IIIb. Mucinous carcinoma had a highly recurrent rate and poorer prognosis than well-moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. About the patterns of recurrence, mucinous carcinoma was found to be more significantly often as lymph node recurrences, but there was no liver metastasis in mucinous carcinoma. As for mucinous colorectal carcinoma, we should consider other different therapeutic strategies and surveillance.