J Mella’s research while affiliated with University of Nottingham and other places

To obtain information on the contemporary management of colorectal cancer in the UK to assist in the development of management guidelines, an independent, 1-year population audit was carried out in Trent Region and Wales. Data were collected on all patients admitted to hospital with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer in a 1-year period. Of 3520 patients, 3221 (91.5 per cent) had surgery. Emergency/urgent operations were carried out as the first procedure in 552 (17.1 per cent). Resection of the primary disease was achieved in 2859 (81.2 per cent) and this was deemed curative in 2070 (58.8 per cent). Twenty-one per cent of all patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Overall, 30-day operative mortality was 7.6 per cent (21.7 per cent for emergency/urgent and 5.5 per cent for scheduled/elective procedures). Anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 105 patients (4.9 per cent); this was 3.9 per cent after colonic resections and 7.9 per cent after anterior rectal resections. Elective rectal excision resulted in a permanent stoma in 486 of 1054 patients (46 per cent). This initial report from a comprehensive, independent audit of colorectal cancer management shows improvement in some aspects of treatment as evidenced by improved anastomotic dehiscence and stoma rates when compared with previous studies. However, there has been little improvement in the proportion of patients presenting with advanced disease, and curative resection rates remain low.

Background To obtain information on the contemporary management of colorectal cancer in the UK to assist in the development of management guidelines, an independent, 1-year population audit was carried out in Trent Region and Wales.Methods Data were collected on all patients admitted to hospital with a new diagnosis of colorectal cancer in a 1-year period.Results Of 3520 patients, 3221 (91·5 per cent) had surgery. Emergency/urgent operations were carried out as the first procedure in 552 (17·1 per cent). Resection of the primary disease was achieved in 2859 (81·2 per cent) and this was deemed curative in 2070 (58·8 per cent). Twenty-one per cent of all patients had metastatic disease at presentation. Overall, 30-day operative mortality was 7·6 per cent (21·7 per cent for emergency/urgent and 5·5 per cent for scheduled/elective procedures). Anastomotic dehiscence occurred in 105 patients (4·9 per cent); this was 3·9 per cent after colonic resections and 7·9 per cent after anterior rectal resections. Elective rectal excision resulted in a permanent stoma in 486 of 1054 patients (46 per cent).Conclusion This initial report from a comprehensive, independent audit of colorectal cancer management shows improvement in some aspects of treatment as evidenced by improved anastomotic dehiscence and stoma rates when compared with previous studies. However, there has been little improvement in the proportion of patients presenting with advanced disease, and curative resection rates remain low.

Consultant surgeons in two United Kingdom Health Regions were invited to complete a questionnaire on details of their personal management of patients with colon and rectal cancer, with particular emphasis on follow-up. Replies from 140 (94%) were analysed by the surgeon's subspecialty of colorectal and gastrointestinal surgery (group 1) and all others (group 2). There was a wide variation in the duration of followup, but no difference between the two groups. More group 1 surgeons carried out investigations as a routine after colonic (P < 0.01) and rectal (P < 0.01) resection. Colonoscopy was used more frequently by group 1 (P < 0.0001) and barium enema by group 2 surgeons (P < 0.05). Investigations to detect asymptomatic metastases were used as a routine by 33.3% of surgeons, in whom there was no concordance over the choice or combination of tests and no difference between the two groups of surgeons. There is no consensus among surgeons as to the ideal duration, intensity and method of follow-up after resection for colorectal cancer and little difference between the practice of colorectal and gastrointestinal surgeons and that of other specialists, except in the use of colonoscopy and barium enema. These results reflect the continuing lack of evidence on which to base the follow-up of patients after surgery for colorectal cancer.

To audit the information content of pathology reports of colorectal cancer specimens in one National Health Service region. All reports of colorectal cancer resection specimens from the 17 NHS histopathology laboratories in Wales during 1993 were evaluated against: (a) standards previously agreed as desirable by pathologists in Wales; and (b) standards considered to be the minimum required for informed patient management. 1242 reports were audited. There was notable variation in the performance of different laboratories and in the completeness of reporting of individual items of information. While many items were generally well reported, only 51.5% (640/ 1242) of rectal cancer reports contained a statement on the completeness of excision at the circumferential resection margin and only 30% (373/1242) of all reports stated the number of involved lymph nodes. All of the previously agreed items were contained in only 11.3% (140/1242) of reports on colonic tumours and 4.0% (40/1242) of reports on rectal tumours. Seventy eight per cent (969/1242) of colonic carcinoma reports and 46.6% (579/ 1242) of rectal carcinoma reports met the minimum standards. The informational content of many routine pathology reports on colorectal cancer resection specimens is inadequate for quality patient management, for ensuring a clinically effective cancer service through audit, and for cancer registration. Template proforma reporting using nationally agreed standards is recommended as a remedy for this, along with improved education, review of laboratory practices in the light of current knowledge, and further motivation of pathologists through their involvement in multidisciplinary cancer management teams.