Local recurrence after potentially curative resection for rectal cancer in a series of 1008 patients.

Local recurrence and its related mortality after potentially curative resection for rectal cancer have been analysed in a series of 1008 patients managed by one of the authors. Nine hundred and thirty-four were available for analysis of recurrence. One hundred and seven (11 per cent) patients developed local recurrence without evidence of systemic spread and 84 (9 per cent) both local and systemic recurrence. Local recurrence was less common (14 per cent) after resection of tumours of the upper third of the rectum compared with the middle (21 per cent) (P = 0.02) or lower thirds (26 per cent) (P less than 0.001). Local recurrence was related to both tumour stage and differentiation (P less than 0.001). There was no significant relationship between local recurrence and tumour size or the type of curative resection performed, restorative or non-restorative. The distal margin of clearance after restorative resection did not influence the local recurrence rate. Of patients who developed metastases recurrence was evident within 2 years in 60 per cent. Three hundred and thirty-two patients died from recurrence, 91 (27 per cent) with evidence of local recurrence only, 80 (24 per cent) with combined local and systemic recurrence and 161 (48 per cent) with evidence of systemic spread only. The corresponding median survivals were 35, 34 and 39 months.