Recurrence and Long-Term Survival Following Segmental Colectomy for Right-Sided Colon Cancer in 813 Patients: a Single-Institution Study

Background Controversy exists regarding optimal surgical approach to right-sided colon cancer due to increasing complete mesocolic excision outcome data; yet, scarce long-term surgical and oncologic outcome data from high-volume centers following right segmental resections without complete mesocolic excision make comparisons difficult to interpret. We report long-term outcomes following standard mesocolic excision for right-sided colon adenocarcinoma. Methods A retrospective review of a prospective database was conducted of all consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for a right-sided colon adenocarcinoma between 2000 and 2007. Demographics, oncologic, operative, and pathologic details are reported. Primary endpoints consisted of overall survival and recurrence. Patients with stage IV and recurrent disease were excluded. Results Eight hundred thirteen patients were identified. Majority of tumors were stage II (n = 318, 39%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 228 patients (28%). Recurrence was observed in 97 patients (12%), at median 1.3 years. Recurrence was most commonly distant (n = 73, 9%). At median follow-up 7.3 years, 5- and 10-year overall survival was 72.4%, and 48.6%, respectively. Five- and 10-year disease-free survival was 67% and 45.8%, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that TNM stage was a significant predictor of recurrence. For disease-free survival, T stage, and N stage were significant on multivariate analysis. Multivariable predictors of overall survival included age, number of lymph nodes removed, N stage, and adjuvant chemotherapy use. Conclusions Excellent long-term outcomes from a large cohort of patients with non-metastatic, right colon adenocarcinoma treated by segmental colectomy without complete mesocolic excision are reported. The majority of recurrences were distant.