Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dissemination of cancer of the colon and rectum

Special reference to four cases of local implantation in perineal wounds

  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Summary

Dissemination of cancer of the colon and rectum occurs through (1) local invasion, (2) lymphatic extension, (3) vascular extension, and (4) implantation or seeding. Following combined abdominoperineal resection for carcinoma of the rectum in 103 patients, perineal recurrences were observed in seven. In only two, however, were the recurrences due to implantation. Both of these had multiple recurrences. The first patient permitted removal of the initial recurrence but refused surgical removal of the second. The other patient had all three perineal recurrences removed and is clinically free of malignant disease three and one half years after the initial operation.

Methods to control cancer dissemination, in addition to the usual surgical procedures have been discussed. These included the adjuvant use of systemic anticancer drugs, local irrigation of wounds with anticancer chemicals and ligation of the bowel above and below the lesion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Astler, V. B. and F. A. Coller: The prognostic significance of direct extension of carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Ann. Surg.139: 846, 1954.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cole, W. H., Douglas Packard and H. W. Southwick: Carcinoma of the colon with special reference to prevention of recurrence. J.A.M.A.155: 1549, 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Coller, F. A., E. B. Kay and R. S. McIntyre: Regional lymphatic metastasis of carcinoma of the rectum. Surgery8: 294, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Collier, R. G., R. C. Ey, G. O. McDonald and W. H. Cole: Wound irrigation to prevent local recurrence of cancer. A.M.A. Arch. Surg.78: 528, 1959.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Connell, J. F. Jr. and A. Rottino: Tretrograde spread of carcinoma in the rectum and rectosigmoid. Arch. Surg.59: 807, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dukes, C. E. and H. J. R. Bussey: The spread of rectal cancer and its effect on prognosis. Brit. J. Cancer.12: 309, 1958.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Engell, H. C.: Cancer cells in the circulating blood: A clinical study on the occurrence of cancer cells in the peripheral blood and in venous blood draining the tumour area at operation. Acta chir. scandinav. Suppl.201: 1–70, 1955.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Grinnell, R. S.: Lymphatic metastases of carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Ann. Surg.131: 494, 1950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Grinnell, R. S.: Spread of carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Cancer.3: 641, 1950.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. McDonald, G. O.: Growth in tissue culture of cells recovered from the blood of cancer patients. (In press.)

  11. McDonald, G. O., S. M. Gines and W. H. Cole: Wound irrigation and cancer surgery. (In press.)

  12. McDonald, G. O., C. Livingston, C. F. Boyles and W. H. Cole: The prophylactic treatment of malignant disease with nitrogen mustary and triethylenethiophosphoramide (thio TEPA). Ann. Surg.145: 624, 1957.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McGrew, E. A., J. F. Laws and W. H. Cole: Free malignant cells in relation to recurrence of carcinoma of the colon. J.A.M.A.154: 1251, 1954.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mrazek, R., S. G. Economou, G. O. McDonald, D. P. Slaughter and W. H. Cole: Prophylactic and adjuvant use of nitrogen mustard in the surgical treatment of cancer. Ann. Surg.150: 745, 1959.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Roberts, Stuart, Alvin Watne, Ruth McGrath, Elizabeth McGrew and W. H. Cole: Technique and results of isolation of cancer cells from the circulating blood. A.M.A. Arch. Surg.76: 334, 1958.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sandberg, A. A. and G. E. Moore: Examination of blood for tumor cells. J. Nat. Cancer Inst.19: 1, 1957.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Smith, R. R., L. B. Thomas and A. W. Hilberg: Cancer cell contamination of operative wounds. Cancer.11: 53, 1958.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Southwick, H. W. and W. H. Cole: Prophylactic measures in local recurrence and venous metastases in carcinoma of the colon. S. Clin. North America, October, 1955, 1363.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. From the Department of Surgery of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

    G. O. McDonald M.D. & A. R. Williamson M.D.

Authors
  1. G. O. McDonald M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. R. Williamson M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Read at the meeting of the American Proctologic Society, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 15 to 17, 1959.

Supported in part by grants from the Schweppe Foundation and the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society.

About this article

Cite this article

McDonald, G.O., Williamson, A.R. Dissemination of cancer of the colon and rectum. Dis Colon Rectum 3, 117–124 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616540

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616540

Keywords

Search

Navigation