Disease‐free survival and recurrence after resection of colorectal carcinoma

Recurrence Data From A Series Of 1, 315 Colorectal Cancer Patients Managed By One Surgeon With Potentially Curative Resection Are Presented. Complete Follow‐Up Information Was Available On 1, 287 (98%) Patients. At The Time Of The Last Recurrences, 164 And 232 Months For Rectal And Colonic Tumours Respectively, The Long‐Time Recurrence Rate Was Significantly (P = 0.001) Higher For Rectal Tumours (42%) Than For Colonic (33%). Although Local Recurrences Tended To Be More Common In Rectal Than In Colonic Tumours (18% Compared To 15%), Only Those In Contiguity With The Operative Area Were Significantly (P < 0.005) More Common In Rectal Tumours. Systemic Recurrences Were Also Significantly (P < 0.025) Commoner For Rectal Tumours. The Greater Recurrence Rates In Rectal Tumours Were Associated With Significantly (P < 0.001) Higher Incidence Of Stage C Tumours Shorter Recurrence‐Free Survival In Rectal Stage C Tumours (P = 0.001) And Higher Incidence Of Pulmonary Metastases (P < 0.001).