[Prognosis of patients with rectal cancer treated in a department of general surgery].

The results of treatment of 355 patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum treated during the period 1973-1982 in a department for general surgery were compared with the results obtained in other more specialized departments. The 5 year survival rate, corrected for deaths from other causes than cancer of the rectum, was calculated retrospectively to be 35% which was comparable with certain departments. Some highly specialized departments had, however, better results. The postoperative mortality was high (14%). Highly differentiated tumours resulted in better prognoses than poorly differentiated tumours (p less than 0.001). The median age was relatively high (67 years) and relatively many of the patients were men (62%). Patients in whom haemorrhage was the first symptom had better prognoses than patients with other symptoms (p = 0.018). The prognoses were similar regardless of the durations of symptoms.