Suture-Line Neoplastic Recurrence following Large-Bowel Resection

Nineteen patients who had a suture-line recurrence of a bowel neoplasm are reviewed. This sequela to colonic or rectal resection and anastomosis is most common distally, and following segmental or anterior resections. It was absent after small-to-large bowel anastomosis, and following pull-through resection. Three types of suture-line recurrence were observed at exploration, and the times of development fell into early and late groups. Prognosis was best where there was mucosal recurrence only and when this developed late.