Clinicopathological Studies on Rectal Cancer Limited to Muscularis Propria

During the 14 years from 1975 to 1988, 738 cases of rectal cancer were operated, and 85 cases (16.5%) among them were found that the cancer was infiltrating into the proper muscle layer. These cases were evaluated on the basis of clinicopathological findings and classified into early cancer and advanced cancer groups. The nuclear DNA content was measured by flow cytometry. The results obtained were as follows : 1) Lymph node metastasis of evaluated type (11.1 %) occurred less frequently than that of ulcerative type (17.9 %), but was confind to the regional lymph node (n1). 2) The degree of cell stromal reaction correlated with the incidence of lymph node metastasis. 3) There was a good correlation between DNA ploidy and lymph node metastasis.