Parenteral nutrition and tumour growth in the patient with complicated abdominal cancer.

Parenteral nutrition has been advocated as an important adjunct in the treatment of the patient with cancer undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However there is universal agreement that parenteral nutrition does not have a stimulatory effect on tumour growth. Four cases are reported, in complicated abdominal cancer involving only surgery, in which a claim that acceleration of tumour growth by parenteral nutrition can be made.