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Surgical Resection of Primary Tumors in Patients Who Present With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Data, 1988 to 2000

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Abstract

Background

Surgical resection of the primary tumor for patients who present with incurable stage IV colorectal cancer is controversial. National practice patterns have not been described. We evaluated the use of primary tumor resection in patients presenting with stage IV colorectal cancer.

Methods

Patients with stage IV colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1988 and 2000 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients undergoing primary tumor resection were analyzed on the basis of sex, race, year of diagnosis, and the anatomical site of the primary tumor. We compared the survival of resected and nonresected patients.

Results

A total of 17,658 (66%) of the 26,754 patients presenting with stage IV colorectal cancer underwent primary tumor resection. Patients with resected disease were more likely to be young (mean age of 67.1 vs. 70.3 years) and to have right-sided tumors (75.3%, 73.0%, and 45.6%, respectively, for right, left, and rectal; P < .001). In all age groups, patients undergoing resection had higher median and 1-year survival rates (colon: 11 vs. 2 months, 45% vs. 12%, P < .001; rectum: 16 vs. 6 months, 59% vs. 25%, P < .001) when compared with patients who did not undergo resection.

Conclusions

Most patients who present with stage IV colorectal cancer undergo resection of the primary tumor. The proportion of patients undergoing resection depends on patient age and race and the anatomical location of the primary tumor. The degree to which case selection explains the treatment and survival differences observed is not known. Further investigation of the role of surgery in the management of incurable stage IV colorectal cancer is warranted.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank April Fritz, Manager of Data Quality at the National Cancer Institute, for her technical assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Surgerical Oncology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Building, Burlington, E-309, Vermont, 05405

    Alan D. Cook MD & Laurence E. McCahill MD, FACS

  2. Medical Biostatistics, Hills Science Building, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, 05405

    Richard Single PhD

Authors
  1. Alan D. Cook MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurence E. McCahill MD, FACS.

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Published by Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. © 2005 The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc.

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Cook, A.D., Single, R. & McCahill, L.E. Surgical Resection of Primary Tumors in Patients Who Present With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Data, 1988 to 2000. Ann Surg Oncol 12, 637–645 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1245/ASO.2005.06.012

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/ASO.2005.06.012

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