Routine chest computed tomography as a preoperative work-up for primary colorectal cancer: is there any benefit in short-term outcome?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the role of pre-operative chest computed tomography (CT) compared with abdominopelvic CT (AP-CT) and chest radiography (CXR) for detecting pulmonary metastasis in patients with primary colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 619 patients with primary CRC who simultaneously received a preoperative chest CT (chest CT group), AP-CT with hilar extension, and CXR (CXR group).

Results: In the chest CT group, there were 297 (48.

Narrow distal resection margin may be sufficient for rectal cancer after chemoradiation.

Background/aims: What constitutes an adequate length for the distal resection margin in patients with mid-to-distal rectal cancer after pre-operative chemoradiation therapy (PCRT) continues to be debated. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of the distal resection margin on oncological outcome and establish a guideline for the distal resection margin in patients with rectal cancer after PCRT.

Methodology: Data from 204 patients undergoing low anterior resection after completion of chemoradiation therapy were examined.

Comparison and short-term outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery for anterior resections of left-sided colon cancer.

Background: Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery has been introduced as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This study compared the efficacies and short-term clinical outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic anterior resection (HAL-AR) and conventional laparoscopic anterior resection (CL-AR) for treating left-sided colon cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 248 patients who underwent anterior resection for colon cancer (118 HAL-AR and 128 CL-AR) between May 2000 and December 2006.

Location-related differences in sporadic microsatellite unstable colorectal cancer.

Background: Microsatellite unstable CRC is associated with female gender, large tumours, and poor differentiation. However, there are few reports about the characteristics and differences of sporadic microsatellite unstable CRC based on tumour location.

Aims: Site-specific heterogeneity of sporadic microsatellite unstable colorectal cancer (CRC) based on location was elucidated.