Treatment of recurrence of adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum at the anastomotic site.

Resection of recurrent adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum at the anastomotic site was performed in 30 patients. In the majority of the patients, the recurrence was apparent within two years of the initial operation. In 27 patients, the recurrence was diagnosed based upon persistent signs and symptoms or if the tumor was clinically palpable. In 15 patients, complete resection of the recurrent tumor was feasible, and the median survival time was 59 months, with a five year survival rate of 49 per cent. In ten other patients, minimal tumor was left behind. The median survival time was 17 months and 12 per cent survived five years.