Study: Many Rectal Cancer Patients Require Gynecologic Surgery

Johns Hopkins University researchers report that more than one third of women who undergo surgery for stage II or III rectal cancer are found to have gynecologic abnormalities that often require removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Dr. Fredrick J. Montz reported in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons on his analysis of 67 women who underwent surgery for stage II or III rectal cancer between 1985 and 1996.

Twenty-five of the remaining 67 women had gynecologic abnormalities identified at the time of surgery, he said.

He reported that surgical removal of either the fallopian tubes and/or the uterus was performed on 15 of the 25 women, and nine required removal of one or both ovaries for specific abnormalities noted during the cancer surgery.

"Colorectal surgeons operating on women with stage II and III rectal cancer should be cognizant of the high likelihood of identifying incidental gynecologic pathology and be prepared for definitive management of the pathology," Montz concluded.

Other sources: Journal of the American College of Surgeons