[Clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of multiple primary synchronous cancer of the large intestine].

Clinical course and procedures for diagnosis of primary multiple synchronous cancer of the colon are discussed on the basis of the data on 52 patients treated at the Institute's Clinic in 1962-1986. In 30.5%, these tumors were accompanied by single or multiple polyps of the colon. A significant role of endoscopy in the diagnosis was demonstrated. As a result of complex examination of the organ, a correct preoperative diagnosis of multifocal cancer was made in 48.1% of patients. Tumor multiplicity was established intraoperatively in 14 cases, at autopsy--in 2 (3.8%) and in the course of gross and histologic examination of the resected material--in 11 patients. Laparoscopy proved effective in 81.8%. Surgery is the major procedure for treatment of these tumors. Radical operation was carried out in 36 cases. The postoperative lethality rate was 13.9%. In the radical surgery group, 3-year survival was 61.7%.