대한대장항문학회

<b>Purpose:</b> The clinical significance of a mucinous-type colorectal adenocarcinoma is still controversial. Mucinous colorectal adenocarcinomas have been suggested to have distinct clinicopathologic features, i.e., early-onset, right-side dominancy, and poor prognosis. We aimed to verify the biological behaviors of and survivals for mucinous adenocarcinomas compared with non-mucinous adenocarcinomas. <br><br><b>Methods: </b>Using a database of colorectal cancers at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and 2000, we enrolled 121 mucinous adenocarcinoma and 2,289 non-mucinous adenocarcinoma patients in this study. Clinical, pathological characteristics of and prognoses for mucinous adenocarcinomas were analyzed and compared with those for non-mucinous adenocarcinomas, retrospectively. The median follow-up period was 24 (0～113) months for mucinous adenocarcinomas and 32 (0～130) months for non-mucinous adenocarcinoma. <br><br><b>Results:</b> Compared to non-mucinous adenocarcinomas, mucinous adenocarcinomas showed distinctive clinicopathologic features of early-onset (P＜0.001), frequent family history (P＜0.001), right-side dominancy (P=0.010), advanced stage at diagnosis (P＜0.001), and common peritoneal seeding at diagnosis (P＜0.001). The recurrence rate in the mucinous adenocarcinoma group was 45.2% during the follow-up period: 21.6% distant metastasis, 14.3% peritoneal dissemination, 5.7% local recurrence, and 3.6% simultaneous local recurrence and distant metastasis. The five-year survival rates in stages II and III were 70% and 48.7%, respectively, for mucinous adenocarcinomas and 92% and 50.2%, respectively, for non-mucinous adenocarcinomas. This difference was statistically significant. <br><br><b>Conclusions:</b> Mucinous adenocarcinomas seem to have distinct biologic behaviors with different clinicopathologic features and poor prognosis. A surgical approach with a follow-up schedule considering the characteristics of mucinous adenocarcinomas is needed. J Korean Soc Coloproctol 2003;19:379-385