Carcinoma of the splenic flexure

There were 50 primary cases of carcinoma of the splenic flexure at Memorial Hospital in the period from 1950 to 1966. Of the 50 patients, 31 were men and 19 were women. Curative resection was performed in 38 cases. palliative resection in nine, a bypass operation in one, and a transverse colostomy in one. The five-year survival of the patients without distant metastases (Dukes' A, B, and C) was significantly inferior when compared with that of the overall colonic-cancer group, 50 and 69.25 per cent, respectively. Splenectomy and distal pancreatectomy in resection of carcinoma of the splenic flexure did not seem to improve five-year survival. Pathologic study of the removed spleens and pancreases failed to reveal metastases.