title: [Time pattern and prognostic evaluation of the recurrence of rectal cancer after resection].
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150040, China.
authors: Yan-long
authors: YL
authors: Liu
authors: Yan-mei
authors: YM
authors: Yang
authors: Hai-tao
authors: HT
authors: Xu
authors: Xin-shu
authors: XS
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: 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