Intraluminal exfoliated cancer cells and effectiveness of bowel ligatures during sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer

Kotaro Maeda, Tsunekazu Hanai, Harunobu Sato, Koji Masumori, Yoshikazu Koide, Hiroshi Matsuoka, Hidetoshi Katsuno, Makoto Kuroda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purposes: To establish the efficiency of bowel ligatures in colon cancer surgery, focusing on the extent to which exfoliated cancer cells are shed in the colonic lumen during sigmoidectomy. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients who underwent sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer were prospectively randomized into two groups: the "ligatures group", in which bowel ligatures were placed, 3, 5, 10 cm from the tumor proximally and distally before dissection; and the "no ligatures group", in which the corresponding sites were ligated only immediately before taking the specimen out. Each colonic segment ligated was irrigated with saline and samples were sent for blind cytological examination. Results: Cancer cells were found in the colonic segment where the tumor was located, in 18 of 20 samples. The frequency of free cancer cells decreased from 50 to 0 % (p < 0.04) in the distal 3-5 cm colonic segment and from 80 to 20 % (p < 0.03) in the proximal colonic segment after performing bowel ligatures. Free cancer cells were confirmed in 1 of 10 samples at both colonic segments 5-10 cm from the tumor, even after bowel ligatures. Conclusions: Intraluminal exfoliated cancer cells could be eliminated by placing bowel ligatures during sigmoidectomy. Measures should be considered to eliminate exfoliated cancer cells during colectomy, even after placing bowel ligatures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-301
Number of pages5
JournalSurgery Today
Volume44
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02-2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery

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