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Malignant cells are collected on circular staplers

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Anastomotic recurrence after resection of colorectal carcinoma has been attributed to insufficient clearance, migration of tumor cells into lymphatics, or implantation of exfoliated malignant cells during anastomosis. We studied 10 patients submitting to low anterior resection for cancer 6 to 16 cm (mean, 12.6 cm) from the anal verge. The anastomosis was performed with a circular stapler introduced transanally into the rectum using the established technique. No lavage of the rectal stump with a cytotoxic agent was conducted before the anastomosis was performed. Having completed the anastomosis, the stapler and the doughnuts were washed with saline, which was collected for cytologic examination. The doughnuts were then examined histologically; all were tumor free. In 9 of the 10 cases, malignant cells were identified in the centrifuged saline. It may be that malignant cells collected by the stapler are implanted during anastomosis and cause subsequent anastomotic recurrence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic for Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Philippe Gertsch M.D., Hans U. Baer M.D. & Guy J. Maddern M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Institute of Pathology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Rainer Kraft M.D. & Hans J. Altermatt M.D.

Authors
  1. Philippe Gertsch M.D.
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  2. Hans U. Baer M.D.
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  3. Rainer Kraft M.D.
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  4. Guy J. Maddern M.D., Ph.D.
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  5. Hans J. Altermatt M.D.
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Gertsch, P., Baer, H.U., Kraft, R. et al. Malignant cells are collected on circular staplers. Dis Colon Rectum 35, 238–241 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02051014

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