Value of a routine follow-up endoscopy program for the detection of recurrent colorectal carcinoma.

Four hundred fifty-two patients with surgically resected colon or rectal cancer were evaluated to determine the incidence of intraluminal recurrences and the utility of a routine endoscopy screening program for detecting such recurrences. At the time of analysis, recurrent disease was found in 86 of 380 colon cancer patients and 21 of 72 rectal cancer patients. Local recurrence, defined as tumor within 400 cm2 of the primary, was present in 38 of 86 colon, and 11 of 21 rectal cancer patients.

Pancreatic cancer. Adjuvant combined radiation and chemotherapy following curative resection.

The efficacy of combined radiation and fluorouracil as adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer is suggested by a prospective randomized study conducted by the Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (GITSG). Twenty-two patients randomized to no adjuvant treatment and 21 to combined therapy were analyzed. Neither life-threatening toxic reaction nor death due to toxic effect was encountered.

Pancreatic cancer. Assessment of prognosis by clinical presentation.

Three hundred ninety-three patients who were entered into pancreatic carcinoma treatment protocols of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (GITSG) were analyzed as to significant differences in clinical presentation and factors influencing survival. Patients were grouped according to the stage of the disease. Group I (21 cases) included those patients who had a potentially curative resection.

Defect in assimilation following combined radiation and chemotherapy in patients with locally unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

The relative contributions of high-dose irradiation and/or chemotherapy to the nutritional problems of patients with inoperable pancreatic carcinoma were evaluated by study of pancreatic exocrine function and jejunal function and morphologic findings in ten patients before and after treatment. Nutrient assimilation studies included determination of serum carotene levels, D-xylose absorption and fat absorption. Crosby capsule biopsy specimen of jejunal mucosa were evaluated with light microscopy.

Acute pancreatitis: clinical vs. CT findings.

In a prospective study of 91 patients with acute pancreatitis, computed tomographic (CT) findings were correlated with the clinical type of acute pancreatitis. In acute edematous pancreatitis (63 patients; 16 with repeat CT), CT was normal (28%) or showed inflammation limited to the pancreas (61%). Phlegmonous changes were present in 11%, including one patient with focal pancreatic hemorrhage, indicating that clinically unsuspected hemorrhagic pancreatitis can occur.