Lymphatic spread in cancer of the rectum

✍ Scribed by W. B. Gabriel; Cuthbert Dukes; H. J. R. Bussey

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1935
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1003 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800239017

✦ Synopsis

IN cases of cancer of the rectum treated by radical excision the prognosis depends to a large extent on whether or not the lymphatic glands contain metastases. Our follow-up records at St. Mark's Hospital now show that in the A Group1 of cancer of the rectum, when the growth is removed by perineal excision before there is gross extension to the perirectal tissues, 91 per cent of the operation survivals are alive after five years. In the B cases, in which the growth has extended by direct spread to the perirectal tissues but has not caused deposits in the glands, 64 per cent of patients survive for five or more years. On the other hand, in the C Group, with glandular metastases, only 16 per cent of patients surviving perineal excision reach the five-year limit. Table Z shows the results in the three groups set out clearly, the figure in the last column being obtained from the customary