Surgical treatment of gastrocolic fistula due to cancer of the colon.

Abstract

Even when malignant disease of the stomach or colon produces a communication between these two organs, resection may yet prolong survival. This fact has been reported previously by von Haberer 1 and by Gabridzhanian, 2 but generally authors who describe malignant gastrocolic fistulas, particularly in this country, do not report successful treatment. 3-13 Gastrocolic fistula may result from cancer of the colon, the stomach, or the pancreas, 14 or even from lymphoma of one of these organs. 4 Colon cancer may also, of course, produce jejunocolic fistula 15 or duodenocolic fistula. 2,6 Many cases of gastrocolic fistula due to malignancy are reported in the radiologic literature, apparently as mere curiosities, since there is no accompanying record of treatment. 16,17 Several of the reported patients who underwent operations were considered to have nonresectable lesions and were closed forthwith. 3,4,7,9 Faced with nonresectable malignant gastrocolic fistulas, some surgeons have performed gastrojejunostomy, 2