Anastomotic Recurrence due to Tumor Implantation using the Double Stapling Technique after Curative Surgery for Sigmoid Colon Cancer

Abstract

Recurrence at the site of a stapled anastomosis is generally believed to result from the luminal implantation of viable cancer cells during stapling. We report a 57-year-old woman who underwent radical surgery for sigmoid colon cancer and developed anastomotic recurrence ten months after the initial operation. Her serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were within normal limits during the postoperative follow-up. The patient subsequently underwent a partial colon resection for the anastomotic recurrence. The clinicopathological findings revealed that possible tumor cell implantation caused the recurrence. We encountered a case of anastomotic recurrence due to possible tumor implantation after curative surgery for sigmoid colon cancer. Follow-up colonoscopy was more helpful for the diagnosis of anastomotic recurrence than CEA monitoring.