Rectal Carcinoma, Mayo Hospital Experience

Abstract

For patients having rectal carcinoma, resection offers the only chance of cure. The approach to operation is influenced by the finding at sigmoidoscopy, degree of fixity of the growth as assessed by rectal examination and the histology of the tumor. In the study different operative option according to the site of tumor and demographic aspect of the rectal carcinoma in local community were studied. It is a prospective study carried out at Mayo Hospital, Lahore Pakistan to assist in the development of the management guideline. In this study, 50 patients with new diagnosis of carcinoma rectum were included. Out of the 50 patients 44% had tumor of the upper rectum 16% in the middle and 40% in the lower rectum. In 96% of the cases histology was adenocarcinoma and 2% each for melanoma and lymphoma. Resection of the primary disease in 92% of the cases, 20% of the cases presented with acute obstruction and 4% of the cases were inoperable. Curative resection was possible in 80% of the cases, palliation was achieved in 12% cases and 4% of the cases deemed inoperable at the time of operation. Incidence of rectal carcinoma is higher in younger age group being < 40 and resection of the primary tumor is the cure in early cases.