Colon Resection for Cancer

Abstract

Considerable data have been reported by Turnbull et al. and by Stearns and Schottenfeld suggesting that wide resection of colon neoplasms results in a higher percentage of 5-year survivals than does conservative excision. This is especially true of Duke’s stage C lesions, those that have histologically positive lymph nodes. It is not that the length of colon removed results in increased survival, but that wide resection permits higher dissection of the mesentery and its lymphovascular complex. Because the lymphatic network tends to follow the course of the veins, a more extensive dissection of the lymph nodes requires a concomitant extensive resection of the blood vessels. Thus an additional length of colon must be removed.