title: Spontaneous regression of peritoneal carcinomatosis from a rectal cancer.
abstract: Spontaneous regression of adult solid tumours is rare. Here, we present the case of a 51-year-old man who underwent a curative resection for an adenocarcinoma of the rectum in 1989. He remained well until 12 months after surgery when he developed a large-fixed mass proximal to the anastomosis, which was treated with radiotherapy but did not respond. Shortly after, he presented with intestinal obstruction caused by extensive intraperitoneal metastases. At laparotomy, a palliative entero-enterostomy and ileostomy were performed. Biopsies from the peritoneal lesions showed features typical of metastatic adenocarcinoma. The patient did not receive any additional therapy. However, his condition continued to improve; he remains disease free and well at present (May 2005). A review of the literature revealed two cases of spontaneous regression of peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to a rectal cancer; we report the third case and discuss some of the reasons potentially responsible for the regression.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Unit, Department of Surgery, York Hospital, UK. aymonrazeq@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Ayman S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abdelrazeq
authors.forename: Jonathan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Leveson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*