ABDOMINAL-WALL RECURRENCE AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC-ASSISTED COLECTOMY FOR ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE COLON - REPORT OF A CASE

PURPOSE: To report an unusual mode of colorectal carcinoma recurrence after laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy. METHODS: Retrospectiv e case review. RESULTS: Laparoscopic-assisted colectomy has been shown in a variety of settings to be safe and technically feasible. The que stion of its efficacy in treating colorectal carcinoma remains uncerta in. We report a case of a 71-year-old male who presented with a trocar site abdominal wall recurrence 10 months after a laparoscopic-assiste d right hemicolectomy. To our knowledge, this represents the first suc h reported case in the literature. CONCLUSION: Questions surrounding t he efficacy of laparoscopic colectomy in eradicating colorectal carcin oma support the need for rigorous prospective study of this new techni que.