Is complete mesocolic excision oncologically superior to conventional surgery for colon cancer? A retrospective comparative study.

Background: During the last decade, many efforts have been made in order to improve the oncologic outcomes following colonic resection. Complete mesocolic excision (CME) has proved to provide high rates of disease-free and overall survival rates in patients undergoing resection for colonic malignancies. The aim of our study was to further investigate the role of CME in colonic surgery through comparison with a series of conventional resections.

Methods: All data regarding resections for colonic cancer since 2006 were obtained prospectively from two surgical departments. Retrieved data from 290 patients were analyzed and compared between those who underwent CME and those who had conventional surgery.

Results: The CME group presented a higher rate of postoperative morbidity and readmissions. Histopathological features were in favor of CME surgery compared with the conventional group, in terms of both resected bowel length (33 vs. 20 cm) and lymph node harvest (27 vs. 18). Although CME was associated with better disease-free and overall survival times, only tumor differentiation, adjuvant chemotherapy and age had a statistically significant affect on those outcome values (P<0.05).

Conclusion: CME improves histopathologic features, but without presenting oncologic superiority. Larger prospective studies following adequate surgical training are needed to prove the technique's advantages in oncologic outcomes.