This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
Patterns of local disease failure and outcome after salvage surgery in patients with anal cancer. BJS 2005; 92: 605-614.
Published: 28th February 2005
Authors: A. G. Renehan, M. P. Saunders, P. F. Schofield, S. T. O'Dwyer
Background
Salvage surgery for anal cancer is usually reserved for local disease failure, but issues relating to the prediction of local failure and surgical outcome are ill defined.
Method
Between 1988 and 2000, 254 patients with non‐metastatic anal epidermoid carcinoma were treated at a regional cancer centre with radiotherapy (n = 127) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 127).
Results
There were 99 local disease failures (39·0 per cent), all but five occurring within 3 years of initial treatment. Increasing age (P < 0·001, Cox model), total radiation dose (P = 0·004) and tumour stage (P = 0·010) were independent predictors of local failure. The overall 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates after local disease failure were 46 and 29 per cent; the corresponding rates after salvage surgery (73 patients) were 55 and 40 per cent. A positive resection margin was the strongest negative predictor of survival after salvage surgery (P = 0·008, log rank test). Of 52 patients treated before the routine consideration of primary plastic reconstruction, delayed perineal wound healing occurred in 22 (42 per cent).
Conclusion
In the management of anal cancer, local disease failure is a major clinical problem requiring early detection followed by radical surgery, often accompanied by plastic reconstruction. By implication, these factors favour the centralization of treatment for this uncommon cancer to a multidisciplinary oncology team. Copyright © 2005 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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