Comparative study of oncologic outcomes for laparoscopic vs. open surgery in transverse colon cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Laparoscopic resection for transverse colon cancer is a technically challenging procedure that has been excluded from various large randomized controlled trials of which the long-term outcomes still need to be verified. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes for transverse colon cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy (LAC) or open colectomy (OC).


METHODS
This retrospective review included patients with transverse colon cancer who received a colectomy between January 2006 and December 2010. Short-term and five-year oncologic outcomes were compared between these groups.


RESULTS
A total of 131 patients were analyzed in the final study (LAC, 84 patients; OC, 47 patients). There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, tumor location, operative procedure, or blood loss between groups, but the mean operative time in LAC was significantly longer (LAC, 246.8 minutes vs. OC, 213.8 minutes; P = 0.03). Hospital stay was much shorter for LAC than OC (9.1 days vs. 14.5 days, P < 0.01). Postoperative complication rates were not statistically different between the two groups. In terms of long-term oncologic data, the 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were not statistically different between both groups, and subgroup analysis according to cancer stage also revealed no differences.


CONCLUSIONS
LAC for transverse colon cancer is feasible and safe with comparable short- and long-term outcomes.
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Woo Ram
WR
Kim
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Se Jin
SJ
Baek
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chang Woo
CW
Kim
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun A
HA
Jang
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Min Soo
MS
Cho
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sung Uk
SU
Bae
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyuk
H
Hur
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Byung Soh
BS
Min
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Hyuk
SH
Baik
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang Young
KY
Lee
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Nam Kyu
NK
Kim
Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Kuk
SK
Sohn
Colon; Colonic neoplasm; Laparoscopic surgery; Transverse