[Therapy of local recurrence after colorectal cancer]

A prospective study was undertaken of the incidence, symptoms, diagnostic measures and therapy of local recurrence of colorectal carcinoma following radical surgical management. 69 (16%) out of 434 patients developed recurrence of the tumour, which was local in 51 patients (12%). Half of the latter group was symptom free at the time of diagnosis. 45 out of the 51 patients were treated by surgery, a radical operation being feasible in 25 cases. 60% of these have survived for at least 30 months. The operative mortality was very low, with only one death, although extensive surgery was necessary in most of the cases. The preliminary results of this study support the hypothesis that a postoperative follow-up programme for patients with colorectal cancer leads to early detection of local recurrence and improves the chance of cure by surgical treatment.