[Local recurrence caused by direct implantation from cancer of the colon; findings of a case report].

The Authors report the case of a 60 year old woman who developed a local recurrence 3 months after a right hemicolectomy for a cancer of the ascending colon. The site of the recurrence along the suture line, the huge size of the tumor, the short interval from the first operation with its apparent radicality strongly support the origin of such recurrence from implantation. Pathogenetic mechanisms of local recurrence due to implantation metastases as well as current methods to prevent tumor seeding in colorectal surgery are reviewed. The importance of early endoscopic follow-up after colorectal resection is also stressed.