Elective resection for colorectal cancer in Vermont: 1971--1975.

An analysis of 612 patients undergoing elective resection for colon and rectal cancer in Vermont during the period 1971 to 1975 indicates an increasing incidence of cancers of the cecum and ascending colon, an increased number of Duke's A cancers, a synchronous cancer rate of 6 percent, an overall operative mortality of 6.5 percent, a wide variance in postoperative stay and a relatively small experience per operating surgeon. Only one third of colorectal cancers can be visualized through the rigid sigmoidoscope. Better screening techniques that are simple, reliable, inexpensive and safe must be developed to locate proximal lesions before they metastasize to lymph nodes and distant sites. Further trials with stool blood testing are recommended.