A study of the lengthening and contractility of the surgical margins in digestive tract cancer.
BACKGROUND
The lengthening and the contractility of the digestive tract were studied.


METHODS
The stretched length of specimens was measured under pull weights of 500 g and 1000 g; the contracted length was measured in natural status and in 10% formalin fixation in vitro. The lengthening or contractility rate was calculated as the length difference divided by the natural length in vivo.


RESULTS
The esophagus lengthened 16.5% at 500 g and 30.5% at 1,000 g, stomach 15% and 22.6%, small intestine 66.4% and 120%, large intestine 36% and 56%. In natural status in vitro, the esophagus contracted 44.5%, stomach 13.6%, small intestine 11.4%, and large intestine 15.6%; they continued to contract 12 to 24 hours after formalin fixation.


CONCLUSIONS
The lengthening and contractility of the digestive tract should be considered in evaluating the resection margin at surgery. The length of different conditions can be converted by the formula: Y = alphaX.
Wang
Linbo
L
Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College, Zhe Jiang University, Hang Zhou 310016, China. Wanglinbo@medmail.com.cn
Shen
Jianguo
J
Song
Xiangyang
X
Chen
Wenjun
W
Pan
Tao
T
Zhang
Weimin
W
Sun
Xiaodong
X
He
Chao
C
Wu
Jinmin
J
D000328:Adult; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000502:physiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology