Diseases of the colon and rectum
-
The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with pathologic tumor response following pre-operative chemoradiation therapy, and the prognostic impact of pathologic response on overall and disease-free survival. ⋯ Tumor response following preoperative chemoradiation therapy is mainly related to the preoperative regimen used. For patients receiving preoperative chemoradiation therapy, pretreatment T stage, but not tumor response to preoperative chemoradiation therapy, is prognostic for outcome (both disease-free and overall survival).
-
Immunosuppression used in transplantation is associated with an increased incidence of various cancers. Although the incidence of colorectal cancer in transplant patients seems to be equal to nontransplant population, the effects of immunosuppression on patients who develop colorectal cancer are not well defined. The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics and survival patterns of transplant patients developing de novo colorectal cancer. ⋯ Transplant patients develop colorectal cancer at a younger age and exhibit worse five-year survival rates than the general population. These data suggest that chronic immunosuppression results in a more aggressive tumor biology. Frequent posttransplantation colorectal cancer screening program may be warranted.
-
The aims of this study were to assess the prognostic value for mortality of several factors in patients with colonic obstruction and to study the differences between proximal and distal obstruction. ⋯ Large bowel obstruction still has a high of mortality rate. An accurate preoperative evaluation of severity factors might allow stratification of patients in terms of their mortality risk and help in the decision-making process for treatment. Such an evaluation would also enable better comparison between studies performed by different authors. Principles and stratification similar to those of distal lesions should be considered in patients with proximal colonic obstruction.