Abstract
In order to evaluate local recurrence of rectal cancer which might be caused by intraoperative implantation, 209 patients who were initially operated on for rectal cancer in a recent 6-year period from January 1992 to December 1997 were subjected to a study. Of the 209 patients, seven (3%) patients underwent reoperation for local recurrence and two (1%) out of the seven patients were diagnosed as having recurrence due to intraoperative implantation. Patient 1, a 73-year-old man, underwent an abdominoperineal resection (APR) due to positive surgical margin scheduled for low anterior resection (LAR). Since perineal mass developed 4-years and 2 months after the surgery, an excision of the pelvic tumor was performed. The other patient, a 48-year-old man, underwent LAR with double stapling technique due to panperitonitis of perforation of a rectal cancer. Since anastomotic recurrence developed 8 months after the surgery. APR was performed. It is thought that sufficient lavage to prevent intraoperative implanatation of cancer cells as well as strict observation for early detection of its resultant local recurrence are required, if any exposure of the tumor is suspected during surgery.
