E. S. R. Hughes

Suture-line neoplastic recurrence following large-bowel resection.

Nineteen patients who had a suture-line recurrence of a bowel neoplasm are reviewed. This sequela to colonic or rectal resection and anastomosis is most common distally, and following segmental or anterior resections. It was absent after small-to-large bowel anastomosis, and following pull-through resection. Three types of suture-line recurrence were observed at exploration, and the times of development fell into early and late groups. Prognosis was best where there was mucosal recurrence only and when this developed late.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal and Anal Margin

This is a study of 41 patients with squamous carcinoma of the anus. There were 23 with a carcinoma situated above the dentate line, the five-year survival rate being 27%, and 18 with a carcinoma below the dentate line, with a five-year survival rate of 30%. Advanced local and lymphatic spread at the initial examination was a prominent feature of the series. SUMMARY The records of 41 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal and anal margin are reviewed. An exact follow-up study was possible in every instance. There were 23 individuals with carcinoma of the anal canal and 18 with carcinoma of the anal margin. Spread to local structures or lymph nodes was observed in nearly half of the patients with anal canal carcinoma, and less frequently in anal margin carcinoma. The preferred method of treatment for anal canal carcinoma was a Miles abdominoperineal resection, and for anal margin carcinoma wide local excision. The combined five-year survival was 28.6%, being 27% for anal canal carcinoma, and 30.5% for anal margin carcinoma.