Extrarectal colonic carcinoma: analysis of 138 cases with long-term follow-up

To identify factors that determine long-term survival after resection of extrarectal colonic cancer, we analyzed 138 such patients operated upon in a five-year period. Because rectal tumors have lower survival rates, they were excluded hoping to enhance the prognostic accuracy of the study. The sigmoid colon was the most common location of the tumor (59%) followed by the ascending (19%), the transverse (15%), and the descending colon (9%). In 95 patients (69%), operation was curative. In 12 patients (9%), a resection even with palliative aims could not be done. The five-year survival rates were 87% for 23 patients with Dukes' A and B lesions, 62% for 32 patients with Dukes' B2 lesions, 36% for 42 patients with Dukes' C1 lesions, and 0% for 34 patients with Dukes' C2 or higher. The overall five-year survival rate was 42%. These results emphasize the prognostic reliability of pathologic staging methods and bring into focus the importance of enhancing efforts for detecting extrarectal colonic cancers at early stages of development when curative resection offers maximal chances for cure.