[Time pattern and prognostic evaluation of the recurrence of rectal cancer after resection].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the regular pattern and prognostic evaluation of patients with recurrent rectal cancer after resection.


METHODS
Three hundred and fourteen cases with recurrent rectal cancer after resection treated between May 1979 and November 2006 were classified into three groups according to the recurrence intervals (<3 years, 3-5 years, >5 years). The survival rates and prognosis in the three groups were analyzed and compared retrospectively.


RESULTS
Of the 314 patients, the cancer relapsed in 247 cases (78.7%) in less than 3 years, and the recurrence occurred predominantly within 2 years (207 cases, 65.9%) after the operation. The neoplasm in 41 cases (13.3%) recurred in 3-5 years after the operation, and 26 cases (8. 3%) in more than 5 years after the resection. Disease-free interval, Dukes stage, neoplasm gross type, histological type, T stage, lymphatic and distant metastasis were associated with the prognosis on univariate analysis. And disease-free interval and tumor Dukes stage were independent prognostic factors for survival rate on multivariate analysis. Disease-free interval and progression-free survival were related positively with survival time.


CONCLUSIONS
The rectal cancer patients should be followed-up intensively for 2 years after the operation and moderately from then on. Disease-free interval and progression-free survival could be taken as the best predictors of long-term cure and prognosis.
Liu
Yan-long
YL
Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150040, China.
Yang
Yan-mei
YM
Xu
Hai-tao
HT
Dong
Xin-shu
XS
D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis