DISSECTION OF PARA-AORTIC LYMPH NODE METASTASIS AFTER SURGERY FOR A CANCER OF THE TRANSVERSE COLON

Abstract

An operated case of para-aortic lymph node recurrence after surgery for a cancer of the transverse colon is reported. A 64-year-old woman underwent an operation for cancer of the transverse colon on September 26, 1995. Six months after the operation, increases in serum CEA and CA19-9 level were found and further exermination revealed para-aortic lymph node swelling from the level of the It. renal vein to the bifurcation of the aorta. Para-aortic lymph node metastasis of the colonic cancer was suspected. There was no evidense of another metastasis in Ga scintigraphy. We judged that the patient was a candidate for operation and performed para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The patient has no sign of recurrence at present, 16 months after the operation. No case of para-aortic lymphadenectomy after operation for the colonic cancer has been reported to this time in Japan. It is suggested that this operation is beneficial for proloning the survival time in case of no evidence of another metastasis.