Colon, rectum, and anus.
Cancer of the colon is the second most common cancer. Adherence to principles of screening, diagnosis, and management have the potential to substantially improve survival.
Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
R W Beart
Publications and source records attributed to R W Beart.
Adjuvant therapy for resectable colorectal carcinoma with fluorouracil administered by portal vein infusion. A study of the Mayo Clinic and the North Central Cancer Treatment Group.
We randomized 224 patients with resected Dukes' stage B2 or C colorectal cancer to either an untreated control group or to a group receiving 7 days of fluorouracil therapy (500 mg/m2 per day) by portal vein infusion. Randomization was accomplished during surgery after staging by frozen section. Only 5 (2.2%) of our 224 patients were ineligible, but an additional 10 patients assigned to portal vein infusion could not be treated because of technical problems with catheter placement. Toxic reactions were mild. There was only 1 postoperative death on each study arm. At present, the median follow-up for all patients is 5.5 years (range, 1.5 to 9.5 years). Interval to progression and survival curves essentially overlap. The same lack of treatment effect is seen in both the stage B and C subsets.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Peripheral nerve and ureteral tolerance to intraoperative radiation therapy: clinical and dose-response analysis.
Between April 1981 and July 1984, 51 patients received intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) as a component of therapy for the management of primary or recurrent pelvic malignancies which were initially unresectable for cure. For these patients, curative surgical alternatives did not exist, or would have involved extensive procedures such as pelvic exenteration, distal sacrectomy, hemipelvectomy, or hemicorporectomy. The primary disease was colorectal in 38 patients. Treatment consisted of external beam radiation (range 3000 to 6890 cGy, median 5040 cGy), surgical debulking when feasible, and an intraoperative electron beam boost to the gross or microscopic residual disease (dose range 1000 to 2500 cGy, median 1750 cGy) utilizing 9-18 MeV electrons. The most common IORT associated toxicities were peripheral neuropathy and ureteral obstruction. None were life-threatening or fatal in severity. Of the 50 patients evaluable for neurotoxicity analysis, 16 (32%) developed peripheral neuropathy consisting of pain in 16 patients, numbness and tingling in 11, and weakness in 8. The pain, numbness and tingling resolved in about 40% of patients, while weakness resolved in only 1 of 8. Sixteen ureters were initially unobstructed by tumor at the time of IORT. Of these, 10 (63%) subsequently showed evidence of obstruction and hydronephrosis. The development of neurotoxicity was more common at IORT doses of 1500 cGy or more versus 1000 cGy. Ureteral obstruction with hydronephrosis occurred more frequently at IORT doses of 1250 cGy or more compared to 1000 cGy. There was no relationship between the likelihood of developing complications and the total external beam dose. The observed dependence of human nerve toxicity primarily on the IORT dose is consistent with data generated from animal experiments.
Colorectal Neoplasms↗
Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Reoperation for pouch-related complications.
The aim was to assess the value of reoperative surgery for pouch-related complications after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for chronic ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Between January 1981 and August 1989, 114 of 982 IPAA patients (12%) seen at the Mayo Clinic had complications directly related to IPAA that required reoperation. Among the 114 patients, the complications prevented initial ileostomy closure in 33 patients (25%), occurred after ileostomy closure in 68 patients (60%), and delayed ileostomy closure in the remaining patients. The salvage procedures performed included anal dilatation under anesthesia for anastomotic strictures, placement of setons and/or fistulotomy for perianal fistulae, unroofing of anastomotic sinuses, simple drainage and antibiotics for perianal abscesses, abdominal exploration with drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses with or without establishment of ileostomy, and complete or partial reconstruction of the reservoir for patients with inadequate emptying. None of the reoperated patients died. Reoperation led to restoration of pouch function in two thirds of patients and, of these, 70% had an excellent clinical outcome. However approximately 20% of the 114 pouches required excision. Excision was common, especially among patients who had pelvic sepsis. Salvage procedures for pouch-specific complications can be done safely and will restore pouch function in two thirds of patients. Complications after reoperation, however, may ultimately lead to loss of the reservoir in one in five patients.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
Sphincter saving operations for chronic ulcerative colitis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Chronic Disease↗
Quality assurance. The use of endoscopy in cancer care.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Barium Sulfate↗
Cellular pharmacology of fluorinated pyrimidines in vivo in man.
Fluorinated pyrimidines, particularly 5-fluorouracil (FUra), have been the subject of intense and almost continuous basic and clinical study since development in the late 1950's by Dr. Charles Heidelberger. Despite this intensive effort, the most important mechanisms by which FUra influences tumor growth in individual cancer patients and the therapeutically optimum method of administration of the drug alone and in combination with other drugs or ionizing radiation continue to be questions of interest. This article reviews aspects of the study of FUra pertinent to the thesis that for this drug as for other agents used to treat human cancers, data on intracellular concentrations of drug and metabolites as a function of dose, schedule of administration and time are needed for correlation with effects on tumor proliferation if a rational basis for individualization of therapy is to be achieved. A preliminary description of ongoing studies of the tissue concentrations of FUra and metabolites in human colorectal carcinoma and in adjacent normal bowel after rapid injection and after 24-hour infusion of radiolabelled pharmacologically active doses of FUra is included as one approach to learning more about the cellular pharmacology of fluorinated pyrimidines.
Antineoplastic Agents↗
Extended resection for locally advanced primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum.
To determine the perioperative mortality and morbidity and the longterm prognosis of patients undergoing extended pelvic resections for localized advanced primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum, the authors reviewed their experience with 65 patients operated on between 1956 and 1984. Local invasion without distant metastasis was present in all patients at operation and en bloc resection of all involved organs was performed with intent of cure. Average age at operation was 61 years; 15 (23 percent) were men and 50 (77 percent) were women. Operations included abdominoperineal resection in 37 patients (57 percent), low anterior resection in 20 patients (31 percent), and Hartmann procedure in 8 patients (12 percent). Additionally, 34 of 42 women (81 percent) with intact uteri underwent en bloc hysterectomy, 37 of 48 women (77 percent) with intact ovaries had oophorectomy, and 25 of 50 women (50 percent) had partial vaginal resection. Seventeen of the 65 patients (26 percent) had a cystectomy, and 2 patients had a portion of small intestine resected in continuity with their tumor. Pathologic examination revealed lymph node involvement in 29 patients (45 percent) and histologic confirmation of adjacent organ extension in 37 patients (57 percent). There were no perioperative deaths, the average survival was 5.7 years, and 25 patients (38 percent) were alive after a mean follow-up period of 9.3 years. Overall five-year survival was 52 percent. Forty patients died during the follow-up period, with 26 (65 percent) of the deaths attributable to either recurrent carcinoma (25 patients) or a new primary lesion (1 patient). The cumulative probability of tumor recurrence at five years was 39 percent.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Outcome of "indeterminant" colitis following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.
To establish whether patients with indeterminant colitis (patients with ulcerative colitis whose surgical specimens also show features of Crohn's colitis) have an adverse outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), the authors reviewed the pathologic reports and postoperative status of 514 consecutive patients who underwent IPAA for chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC). Twenty-five patients (5 percent) had features of indeterminant colitis (IC), including unusual distribution of inflammation, deep linear ulcers, neural proliferation, transmural inflammation, fissures, creeping fat, and retention of goblet-cell population. The clinical and functional outcome of these 25 IC patients was compared with that of the remaining 489 CUC patients. The mean follow-up was 38 +/- 18 months. No significant differences in complication rates, pouch function, incidence of "pouchitis," or requirement for pouch excision were detected in the two groups at follow-up. Although the authors are continuing to perform IPAA on patients with IC, a better definition of the IC patient and a more objective, prospective analysis of outcome of IC following IPAA is required before confident and specific treatment policies can be recommended.
Adult↗
Carcinoma of the anal canal and flow cytometric DNA analysis.
Using flow cytometric DNA analysis of paraffin embedded tissue, DNA histograms were successfully obtained from the anal cancers of 117 patients. DNA diploid patterns were given by 82 cancers (70%) and DNA non-diploid patterns by 35 cancers (30%): 15 DNA aneuploid, 20 DNA tetraploid. Well differentiated squamous cell cancers were mainly DNA diploid, while a larger proportion of poorly differentiated and small cell cancers were DNA non-diploid. The large majority of stage A cancers were DNA diploid. A greater proportion of tumours that had invaded through the anal sphincter or had lymph node metastases or distant spread were DNA non-diploid. Prognosis was slightly poorer for patients with DNA non-diploid cancers when compared to patients with DNA diploid tumours (P = 0.08) and significantly poorer for individuals with DNA aneuploid anal cancers (P = 0.037). However, in a multivariate analysis model, the DNA ploidy pattern of an anal cancer was not of independent prognostic significance alongside tumour histology and tumour stage.
Aged↗
Small intestinal obstruction complicating ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.
Small bowel obstruction remains the most common complication after proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Of 626 patients who underwent this operation between January 1981 and October 1986 for ulcerative colitis (544 patients), familial adenomatous polyposis (72 patients), or indeterminate colitis (ten patients), 17% developed small bowel obstruction, 7.5% of whom required surgical intervention. The obstruction occurred either before or after closure of the temporary ileostomy. Patients who had a temporary Brooke ileostomy were more likely to develop obstruction (four of 32 patients, 12.5%) than those who had a loop ileostomy (25 of 564 patients, 4.6%) (p = 0.07). Also, patients who had had previous operations were at greater risk of obstruction (8.5%) than those who had not (2.2%) (p less than 0.04).
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
Elective colon and rectal surgery without nasogastric decompression. A prospective, randomized trial.
Nasogastric (NG) decompression after colorectal surgery is practiced commonly. Our aim was to determine whether routine NG decompression benefitted patients undergoing this type of surgery. Five hundred thirty-five patients were randomized prospectively to either NG decompression or no decompression. Stratification was by type of operation and patient age. Excluded were patients who had emergency surgery with peritonitis, extensive fibrous adhesions, enterotomies, previous pelvic irradiation, intra-abdominal infection, pancreatitis, chronic obstruction. prolonged operating times, or difficult endotracheal intubation. Two hundred seventy-four patients received NG decompression (Salem sump, Argyle Co., Division of Sherwood Medical, St. Louis, MO) and two hundred sixty-one did not. There were 33 protocol violations included in the 535 patients. Patients who were not decompressed experienced significantly more abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting than did those patients who were. Moreover, 13% required subsequent NG decompression as opposed to a reinsertion rate of 5% for patients routinely decompressed. The mean length of hospitalization for both groups was 11 days. There were no significant differences in nasopharyngeal or gastric bleeding, inability to cough effectively, respiratory infections, wound disruptions, reoperation, and wound infection rates (5%) between the two groups. We conclude that even though there is an increase in the rate of minor symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention, routine nasgastric decompression is not warranted after elective colon and rectal surgery.
Adolescent↗
Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: comparison of results in familial adenomatous polyposis and chronic ulcerative colitis.
The aim of this study was to compare the immediate postoperative results and the long-term outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in 94 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis to those in 758 patients with ulcerative colitis. Two colitis patients died after operation (0.3%), but no polyposis patients died. Overall operative complications appeared in 26% and 29% of polyposis and colitis patients, respectively (NS). Reoperation for intestinal obstruction did not differ between the two groups, but sepsis requiring reoperation was more common in colitis patients (6%) than in polyposis patients (0%, p less than 0.04). At follow-up (mean, 3 years), polyposis patients had fewer daytime stools (4.5 stools per day), less nighttime fecal spotting (26%), and less pouchitis (7%) than colitis patients (5.8 stools per day; spotting, 40%; pouchitis, 22%; p less than 0.002). The conclusion was that polyposis patients tolerated the operation better and had less long-term disability than did colitis patients. The data suggest that postoperative sepsis, daytime stooling frequency, nocturnal incontinence, and pouchitis may be, at least in part, disease related and not surgeon or operation related.
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
Theoretical and practical limits of surgery in colorectal cancer.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Colectomy↗
A new bowel preparation for elective colon and rectal surgery. A prospective, randomized clinical trial.
A two-day cathartic/enema preparation with oral administration of erythromycin and neomycin was compared with an orthograde lavage preparation with oral administration of metronidazole and neomycin in a prospective randomized trial in 300 and 293 eligible patients, respectively, who were undergoing elective colon and rectal surgery. Patients were assessed for infections at six weeks after discharge from the hospital. The major infection rate was less than 1% and the minor infection rate was less than 4%. The overall infection rate was 4.2%. The type of bowel preparation used, the type of operation, and the addition of systemic antibiotic therapy did not affect infection rates significantly. We conclude that this one-day lavage technique, as described, is a safe, effective, economical, and preferred method of colonic preparation for elective colon and rectal surgery.
Adolescent↗
Postoperative intra-abdominal and pelvic sepsis complicating ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.
In a series of 500 patients who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis or polyposis coli, significant intra-abdominal or pelvic sepsis developed in 30 (6%). Among the patients who did not require laparotomy because they responded to treatment with antibiotics or local drainage (surgical or radiologically guided) or both, no pouches were excised and the ileostomy closure rate (92%) was similar to that for the patients who did not have sepsis. The 17 patients whose sepsis did require laparotomy had a high rate of pouch excision (41%) (p less than 0.0001) and a low rate of ileostomy closure (29%) (p less than 0.0001). Factors identified as possibly associated with severe sepsis included female gender and ulcerative colitis complicated by toxicity or malignancy.
Adult↗
Proctocolectomy and ileoanal anastomosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Anal Canal↗
DNA aneuploidy in solitary colonic adenomas and the future risk of colorectal cancer.
Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed on the colonic adenomas of 24 patients who had resection of an invasive colorectal carcinoma subsequent to polypectomy. The incidence of DNA aneuploidy among these adenomas was only 13 percent. Thus, simple recognition of colonic adenomas as being DNA diploid or DNA aneuploid is unlikely to be helpful for identifying patients with adenoma who are at high risk for developing a future colorectal carcinoma.
Aneuploidy↗