[Extended organ resection of colorectal cancer]

Between 1965 and 1984 in 215 patients with colorectal cancer an extended resection was performed due to invasion of adjacent organs. 158 patients were operated on primary and 57 patients on recurrent tumors. Most of the tumors were localized in the sigma and the rectum and therefore about 77% of the resected organs derived from the urogenital tract. 55% of the resected organs proved to be infiltrated histologically by the tumor. In 71% of the patients at least one organ was histologically infiltrated. Postoperative complications were observed in 26%. The mortality was 12%. In the period between 1978 and 1984 the mortality rate was decreased to 7.6%. The prognosis was independent of the localization of the primary tumor and of the number of resected organs. Infiltration of adjacent organs by the tumor was of significant prognostic value. The low perioperative mortality and the reasonable 5 year-overall survival (35%) are encouraging and tumor penetration should not be the reason for inoperability.