Surgical treatment of metachronous colorectal cancers

Thirty-four patients with metachronous colorectal cancer who underwent surgical procedures at the First and Fourth Department of Surgery of the University of Rome were reviewed. 55.9% of the patients developed a second carcinoma within five years after the first operation, and the time interval for the entire group ranged from 13 to 228 months. Adenomatous polyps occurred in 14 patients. Two patients developed a third metachronous cancer. We followed up eight patients using colonoscopy regularly. In this group we found two early cancers, five submucosal cancers and only one advanced tumor. In the other group we found 16 advanced cancers and ten submucosal cancer. The curability rate at second operation was 88.2%, and at the third 50%. The management of metachronous tumors should imply total colonoscopy, at a mean interval of 12-18 months.