The influence of microscopic disease at the margin of resection on recurrence rates in Crohn's disease.

One hundred and forty-two patients with Crohn's disease, undergoing 154 resections and reanastomoses, were reviewed to evaluate the influence of residual microscopic Crohn's disease at the margin of resection on recurrence. Sixty-three cases had microscopic evidence of disease at the resection margin (group I), and 91 cases had disease-free margins (group II). Of the survivors 125 patients undergoing 136 operations were reviewed. Median follow-up was 6.0 years (range 0.25-16 years) in group I, and 5.5 years (range 0.25-14.5 years) in group II. Twenty-two of 57 cases (38%) in group I developed recurrence compared with 23 of 79 cases (29%) in group II (P-NS). Cumulative recurrence rates at 10 years were 66.5% and 58% respectively (P-NS). The results support the increasing evidence that the presence of microscopic disease at the resection margin does not adversely affect recurrence in Crohn's disease.