[Lumbar-pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of rectal cancer]

Extensive radical operations with the ablation of lymph nodes of the pelvis and lumbar region were fulfilled in 64 patients with rectum carcinoma. Prior to the operation all the patients were subjected to the inferior direct roentgen-contrast chromolymphography. High reliability of the negative conclusions of roentgen-contrast lymphography is shown. The positive results of the examination are less reliable. Twelve patients had histological evidence of metastases of the tumor in lymphatic nodes of the second and third stages of the lymphogenic spread of the carcinoma of the rectum. The extended volume makes the operation more radical.