[Abdominal recurrence after interventions on the intestines]

Local recurrences (LR) of intestinal tumors have to be divided into intra- and extraluminal LR since operative reintervention is more frequently possible in intraluminal tumor recurrences. Esophageal cancer most frequently recurs in the posterior mediastine and in the neck. In our own patients we found 16% LR following curative esophagectomy. Curative reresection is normally not possible. Palliative treatment aims to maintain the passage of food. In gastric cancer LR is most frequently seen following resection of a diffuse type carcinoma. The incidence of 7,8% in our series is low. Curative reresection was possible in 19% of extraluminal LR and in 75% of intraluminal LR. Colon carcinoma usually recurs in the abdomen. 12% of left sided primary tumors recur in the pelvis. Quite frequently extended multivisceral resections are necessary to deal with the LR. In 69% reresection was possible and in 41.5% R0-resection was achieved. As in gastric cancer intraluminal LR tend to have a better prognosis. The decision for operative reintervention has to take individual risk factors into consideration.