title: Prognostic value of negative intraoperative ultrasonography in primary colorectal cancer.
abstract: The risk of developing recurrent tumour was assessed in a group of 85 patients with primary colorectal cancer who had a negative intraoperative ultrasonographic examination at the time of primary tumour resection. At a median follow-up of 40 months liver metastases had developed in 14 patients (16 per cent). Dukes classification of the primary tumours was stage A, B and C in one, three and ten patients respectively. The interval between primary tumour resection and detection of metastases varied from 6 to 24 months but all became evident within 2 years. Sixteen patients (19 per cent) presented with extrahepatic recurrence, one of whom also developed liver metastases. A negative intraoperative ultrasonographic examination did not prove to be a favourable prognostic factor which allowed exclusion from follow-up or adjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Blomjous
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meijer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D014463:Ultrasonography