Total mesorectal excision quality as a predictor of overall survival in rectal cancer: A retrospective cohort study - Turkish Journal of Surgery

Introduction: This retrospective study compares the outcomes of right hemicolectomy (RHC) and extended right hemicolectomy (ERHC) in patients with hepatic flexure and proximal transverse colon tumors. Methods: Data from 85 patients who underwent surgery for colonic adenocarcinoma between January 2015 and December 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients who had hepatic flexure and proximal transverse colon tumors were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into two groups: RHC and ERHC. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), with secondary outcomes including postoperative complications and pathological data. Results: The RHC group comprised 46 patients, while the EHRC group had 39 patients. The study found no significant difference in 5-year OS (77% RHC vs 69% ERHC, P = 0.135) or 5-year DFS (87% RHC vs 81% ERHC, P = 0.388) between the two groups. Although the ERHC group had a higher number of harvested lymph nodes (27 vs 22, P = 0.022), this did not correlate with improved survival outcomes. Tumor localization was identified as a significant factor influencing OS, with hepatic flexure tumors showing better survival compared to proximal transverse colon tumors. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding postoperative complications. Conclusion: Our study suggests that while ERHC leads to a higher lymph node yield, it does not significantly improve survival outcomes compared to RHC in patients with hepatic flexure and proximal transverse colon tumors. Further research is needed to optimize surgical strategies and improve patient outcomes.