Conclusions-Comprehensive pathological analysis of a resection specimen can identify cases with a high probability of local recurrence which may benefit from early adjuvant therapy. Involvement ofthe peritoneal surface is a common event in rectal cancer, has adverse prognostic influence and may be an important factor in local recurrence of upper rectal carcinoma. (J7 Clin Pathol 1995;48:849-855)
Mitchard J R, Love S B, Baxter K J & Shepherd N A (2010) Histopathology57, 671–679 How important is peritoneal involvement in rectal cancer? A prospective study of 331 cases
Background and aims: The importance of circumferential resection margin involvement in predicting locoregional recurrence and death from rectal cancer is well known. However, it is well accepted that cases of rectal carcinoma recur when this surgical margin is not compromised. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of peritoneal involvement, among other clinicopathological variables, on locoregional recurrence and overall prognosis in an unselected prospective series of rectal cancer resections.
Methods and results: This unselected prospective study assessed 331 rectal carcinoma cases from a colorectal cancer study that recruited more than 1000 cases. Meticulous pathological examination was performed by one pathologist, with particular attention paid to the peritoneal surface. All clinicopathological variables were entered into a database with comprehensive clinical follow‐up. Peritoneal involvement was a significant factor in prognosis on univariate analysis but not on multivariate analysis. However, in analysing the causes of locoregional recurrence specifically, it may have been a factor in causing this in up to half the cases.
Conclusions: This study adds to the small amount of literature data on the potential importance of peritoneal involvement in predicting locoregional recurrence and overall prognosis, especially in upper rectal cancer.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.