Patterns of recurrent colorectal cancer and recovery surgery

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

In only two areas of colorectal cancer recurrence does surgery provide benefit. For a minority of patients with liver metastases that can be resected completely, cure is possible. Recent data from a prospective liver surgery protocol provide a perspective on the outcome, morbidity, and mortality of the procedure and confirm many of the suggestions in previous retrospective reviews. For patients with isolated pelvic or perineal recurrence, surgical removal of recurrent tumor provides palliation, but only if in-hospital convalescence is minimal and if recently introduced reconstructive techniques allow early rehabilitation.

Supports targeted surgery only for resectable liver metastases or isolated pelvic recurrence; leaves open prospective validation in other sites.