REVIEW ON TWO CASES OF DIFFUSELY INFILTRATING CARCINOMA OF THE COLON AND RECTUM

Presented here are 2 resected cases of diffusely infiltrating carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Case 1: A 71-year-old man was admitted with the chief complaint of disconfort after defecation. With barium enema and colonfiberscopy, a stenotic lesion 10 cm in length was diagnosed as being a diffusely infiltrating carcinoma of the rectum. Proctotomy was performed, but the patient died of liver metastasis. Case 2: A 64-year-old woman was admitted with the chief complaints of left lower abdominal pain and tumor. With barium enema and sigmoidoscopy, an obstructive lesion of the sigmoid colon was diagnosed as being a sigmoid colon cancer. Left hemicolectomy and sigmoidectomy combined with external colic artery and vein were carried out. In a review of 210 cases of primary and diffusely infiltrating carcinoma of the large intestine, including these 2 cases, seen in the Japanese literature, it is found this type of carcinoma is rare; it has metastasis to the peritoneum and/or lymph nodes in a high rate when it is diagnosed; and the prognosis is poor. Here the importance of multidisciplinary treatments including early diagnosis and operation is emphasized.