Peritoneal carcinomatosis is less frequently diagnosed during laparoscopic surgery compared to open surgery in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: During resection of a colorectal tumor a careful inspection of the abdomen should be performed to detect metastases. The aim of the current study was to compare the proportions of patients diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) during laparoscopic resection (LR) and open resection (OR).

METHODS: All patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry area between 2008 and 2012 were included. Proportions of patients with PC were compared between surgical techniques. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS: 6687 Patients underwent resection for colorectal cancer, of whom 1631 patients (24%) underwent LR, 4665 patients (70%) underwent OR. Conversion took place in 391 patients (19% of laparoscopic treated patients). PC was diagnosed in 1.4% of patients undergoing LR, in 5.0% of patients undergoing OR, and in 3.3% of patients in whom LR was converted to OR (p < 0.001). After adjustment for patient and tumor characteristics (e.g., T- and N-stage), patients who were treated by LR had a lower chance to be diagnosed with PC during surgery than patients undergoing OR (odds ratio = 0.42, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer are less frequently diagnosed with PC during LR in comparison to OR. Since effective treatment is currently available for selected patients with PC, a thorough inspection of the peritoneum during surgery is of paramount importance to offer these patients a chance for long-term survival and even cure.