Local recurrence after curative anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum

From 1972 to 1985, 60 patients with rectal carcinoma underwent curative anterior resections. There was a local recurrence in three (5 per cent). Pelvic recurrence was seen in two patients and there was a suture line recurrence in one. The length of the distal margin of the normal bowel or lymph node involvement did not appear to be a significant determining factor of the local recurrence. As for the factor responsible for the recurrence, tumor implantation into the pelvic cavity or into the suture line was suspected. Care should be taken to avoid implantation of tumor cells during operative procedures. There were no local recurrences in patients with lower rectal carcinoma. This finding might be related to the selection of patients with carcinoma of stage I and II.