Clinicopathologic Analysis on Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of Colon & Rectum

ABSTRACT

We have performed a retrospective analysis of 59 patients with mucinous colorectal carcinomas who were operated at the department of surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University Hospital between 1993 and 1996. Among the total 914 patients who had been treated by surgery due to colon & rectal cancers during the same period, 62 were diagnosed as mucinous adenocarcinomas(MC) of colon & rectum. Of these 62 patients, we have analyzed 59 patients of colorectal MCs'comparing with another 59 patients of non-mucinous adenocarcinomas(NMC) who were randomly selected during the same period. Mean age of MCs' was 54.6(25-84) and that of NMCs'was 58.2(30-76). The sex ratio was 1.11 and 1.61 respectively. The age distribution showed peak incidences at 50s' for MCs' and at 60s' for NMCs'. The tumor locations were more proximal in MCs'. Preoperative CEA levels were similar but postoperative serum CEA levels were more reduced in NMCs' than in MCs'. There were more frequent perineural and vascular invasions in MCs' The distribution according to Modified Dukes'stages showed more frequences of NMC's in stage A and there were more frequent synchronous metastases in MCs'. 110 patients out of 118 were followed up. The mean fellow-up periods were 17.9 months in MCs' and 17.6 months in NMCs'. During the period of follow-ups, 12 patients were detected for recurrence in MCs', and 8 patients in NMCs'. Although there was no statistical significance, mucinous carcinoma showed more high incidences of local & systemic recurrences. The three-year survival in groups of Dukes' stage C was poorer in mucinous group. Despite short follow-up period and limited number of patients, our results showed more aggressiveness of mucinous carcinoma.