ETIOLOGY OF COLONIC SUTURE-LINE RECURRENCE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (4) , 251-257
Abstract
Cell viability studies were performed on human desquamated colonic cancer cells obtained by in vivo and ex vivo techniques and on desquamated colonic cancer cells from an experimental animal model. There was no evidence of cell viability. Suture-line recurrence may not occur as a result of the implantation of desquamated tumor cells. Field change in the colonic mucosa was studied by examining the reactions of the mucosubstances in the goblet cells. A potential correlation between transitional mucosa at the anastomosis and the development of suture line recurrence was found and warrants further study. The clinical problem was investigated by the clinicopathological study of 16 patients developing suture-line recurrence in an attempt to discern the etiology of each. In all but one the recurrence was due to incomplete excision of cancer or, in one instance, a 2nd primary growth.