Differences in clinical and pathological outcomes of surgery for splenic flexure tumours by operative approach, and compared to surgery for colorectal cancer at other sites

Project reference number – 0078

Principal investigators – Mr Stephen Ward

Plain language summary – Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The most common treatment is surgery to remove the section of the colon that contains the cancer. Typically, if the cancer is in the right side of the colon the right side is removed, and if the cancer is in the left side of the colon the left side is removed. Such operations are called hemicolectomies. Rarely, a cancer occurs at the corner of the right and left sides of the colon, known as the splenic flexure. When this happens, either the right or left side of the colon can be removed to include this corner. Surgeons do not know which operation is best. As a cancer at this location is rare, individual surgeons and hospitals have limited experience with its treatment. We will use national recorded data to see if one operation has an advantage over the other in terms of treating the cancer and the risks of the operation itself. We will also compare the outcomes with other types of colon cancer operations.