Second laparotomy following 'curative' resection for colorectal cancer.

Second laparotomy was undertaken in 63 patients with suspected local recurrence following 'curative' resection for colorectal cancer. Nine patients proved to have benign disease and 4 a new cancer. Local tumour recurrence was confirmed in 50 patients. Of these, 19 underwent further resection of the tumour, 19 had palliative colostomy or bypass, and laparotomy only was performed in 12. Five of 15 patients undergoing secondary 'curative' resection survived 1 year and 3 survived 18 months. In contrast only 6 of the remaining 35 patients survived 1 year and none survived 18 months. Second laparotomy may be of benefit in a small number of patients with local recurrence following apparently curative resection for colorectal cancer.