A pattern of local recurrence following resection of colorectal cancer

Twenty patients (10%) developed a local recurrence following 200 consecutive curative resections for colorectal carcinoma. Analysis of the pathology of the primary tumours suggests that invasion of adjacent tissues, and lymph node involvement, were more important presection on the mucosa. The average time interval between resection and diagnosis of local recurrence was 17 months. The average survival time following diagnosis was 10 months. Nineteen out of 20 of these patients developed evidence of disseminated disease subsequent to the diagnosis of local recurrence. The most effective palliation occurred in patients in whom the local recurrence could be resected.