Surgical management of large sessile villous and tubulovillous adenomas of the lower rectum

BACKGROUND: Large sessile adenomas of the rectum are premalignant lesions necessitating complete removal. METHODS: We reviewed the data on 20 consecutive patients with large (>or=2 cm) sessile villous and tubulovillous adenomas of the lower two thirds of the rectum (or=50% or an endosonographic staging of >or=uT2 underwent a low anterior resection of the rectum. The remaining 9 patients underwent a posterior full-thickness local bowel wall resection (modified Mason procedure). The median (range) follow-up period was 3.8 (0.7-8.2) years. RESULTS: Preoperative biopsy examination successfully excluded invasive carcinoma. Overstaging, however, occurred in 9 of 12 patients (75%) undergoing endosonography, resulting in surgical overtreatment of 4 patients. A curative resection (R0) was always achieved. Five patients had complications, but there was no in-hospital mortality and no cases of local recurrence. 4 out of 19 patients complained of minor stool incontinence, and 3 patients reported incomplete rectal emptying or constipation. Fourteen patients described the operative result as excellent (n = 7) or good (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS: Endosonography may lead to overstaging and overtreatment. An individualized approach based on the degree of adenomatous circumferential involvement and endosonographic staging showed no mortality, low morbidity, no local recurrence, and good functional medium-term results.     

经肛门括约肌间直肠切除结肠肛管吻合术作为超低位直肠癌保肛术的初步报告

目的 探讨经肛门括约肌间直肠切除结肠肛管吻合术（PIDCA)联合术前后放疗和化疗对超低位直肠癌保肛手术的治疗效果。方法从2002年6月到2004年10月,对19例患者施行该手术。男性11例,女性8例,平均年龄56岁(41-74岁)。肿瘤分期T,4例、T2 10例、T14例、L1例,肿瘤距离肛缘平均4．4cm(3．5-5．0cm)。经肛门在直视下从距离肿瘤下缘2cm全层切断直肠或肛门内括约肌,通过肛门内外括约肌间隙向上方游离直肠并与经腹完成的直肠游离汇合切除直肠及其系膜,经肛门行结肠肛管吻合,全部患者均未行预防性结肠或回肠造口。结果无手术死亡,吻合口瘘2例(10．5%)。随访时间为3～29个月,平均随访16个月,1例盆腔复发,复发率5．3％。术后肛门括约肌功能比较满意。结论对经过选择的距离肛缘≤5cm的超低位直肠癌结合术前后的盆腔放疗和化疗,PIDCA术是保留肛门括约肌功能较理想、安全的术式,有较好根治性治疗效果,术后肛门括约肌功能比较满意。     

经肛门内窥镜下微创治疗直肠肿瘤40例初步经验

目的 评价经肛门内窥镜微创外科技术(TEM)治疗直肠宽基腺瘤和早期直肠癌临床效果.方法 分析2005年5月至2007年4月40例TEM手术的临床效果,结果 40例肿瘤直径中位值2.3 cm,肿瘤下缘距齿状线距离为(8.2±3.2)cm,肿瘤侵犯直肠周径范围为(32.3±18.5)%.平均手术时间为(90±43)min.平均住院4.8 d.无围手术期死亡.切缘瘤细胞均为阴性.病理示直肠绒毛状腺瘤24例、直肠腺癌10例、直肠类癌6例,10例腺癌中pTis2例,PT16例和pT22例.平均随访11个月,所有病例无局部复发.结论 TEM手术创伤小、保留肛门括约肌、缩短住院时间;既可作为直肠宽基腺瘤和pT1期直肠癌的治愈性手术,也可作为pT2直肠癌的姑息性治疗手段.     

肛门内括约肌切除套入式吻合保肛术治疗超低位直肠癌61例

目的探讨经腹经肛门行肛门内括约肌切除套入式吻合保肛术治疗超低位直肠癌的安全性和临床效果。方法回顾性分析北京军区北京总医院收治的61例超低位直肠癌（距肛缘4－5cm）患者接受经腹肛门内括约肌切除套入式吻合保肛术治疗的临床资料。结果61例患者中男34例,女27例;平均年龄56．7岁。癌灶下缘距肛缘4cm者21例,5cm者40例：病理诊断直肠腺癌55例,其中高分化者24例,中分化者29例,低分化者2例;腺瘤癌变6例;TNM分期：T1N0M0为36例,T2N0M0为23例,T3N1M0为2例。术后1-3个月排粪自控能力明显改善,6-12个月时肛门排粪控制功能基本恢复正常。术后发生吻合口瘘2例（3.3％）,吻合口狭窄3例（4．9％）。54例（88．5％）患者接受了术后随访,中位随访时间为6．2年。术后复发3例（5．6％）,5年生存率73．5％。结论肛门内括约肌切除套人式吻合保肛术治疗超低位直肠癌是一种安全、有效的保肛术式。     

Usefulness of transanal endoscopic surgery for carcinoid tumor in the upper and middle rectum

Background This study evaluated the indications and outcome for transanal endoscopic surgery (TES) used to manage rectal carcinoid tumor as compared with those of conventional transanal local resection (TAR). Methods The retrospective study subjects were 28 patients with rectal carcinoid tumor treated by TES (n = 17) or TAR (n = 11) between January 1995 and December 2001. Patient and tumor characteristics, operative results, and postoperative outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results The distance from the anal verge to the distal tumor margin in the TES group (range, 4–12 cm; median, 6.8 cm) was significantly greater than in the TAR group (range, 3–6 cm; median, 4.5 cm) (p = 0.001). The median tumor diameter was 5.5 mm (range, 3–11 mm) in the TES group and 5.0 mm (range, 3–8 mm) in the TAR group, showing no statistical difference. Microscopically, resected specimens in both groups were typical carcinoid tumors restricted to the submucosal layer. No recurrence was noted in either group. Conclusion Whereas TES is useful for patients with small rectal carcinoid tumor of typical histology within the submucosal layer in the upper and middle rectum, TAR is effective for accessing the lower rectum.     

经前会阴超低位直肠前切除术的临床应用

目的总结经前会阴超低位直肠前切除术（APPEAR）治疗低位直肠癌的临床经验。方法回顾性分析2009年9月至2011年8月间在北京协和医院基本外科施行APPEAR手术的26例低位直肠癌患者的临床和随访资料。结果26例患者中男19例,女7例,年龄（63．4±9．5）岁。术前检查见肿瘤距肛缘距离（4．6±0．7）cm。14例患者术前接受新辅助放化疗。26例患者均顺利保肛,手术时间（170±21）min,术中出血量（140±69）ml。术中发生直肠破损1例,术后发生会阴切口感染4例。术后病理：高中分化腺癌10例,中分化腺癌伴部分黏液腺癌7例,低分化腺癌1例,绒毛状腺瘤高级别上皮内瘤变1例．直肠绒毛状腺瘤1例,标本未找到癌细胞6例。术后全组均获随访,随访时间（11．4±5．6）个月,随访期间未出现泌尿功能障碍和肿瘤复发。18例患者于术后6个月行横结肠造口还纳术,术后wexner控粪功能评分平均为5．5分。肛门直肠功能测压显示,肛门括约肌最大主动收缩压为（224．0±59.3）mmHg,肛门括约肌最大静息压为（42．5±11．8）mmHg,直肠最大耐受量为（120．0±27．4）m1,直肠肛门抑制反射均存在。结论经前会阴超低位直肠前切除术适用于部分保留肛门的低位直肠癌手术．并能取得较为满意的肛门排粪功能。     

Preoperative Radiochemotherapy and Sphincter-Saving Resection for T3 Carcinomas of the Lower Third of the Rectum

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the complications and oncologic and functional results of preoperative radiochemotherapy and sphincter-saving resection for T3 cancers of the lower third of the rectum. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Carcinomas of the lower third of the rectum (i.e., located at or below 6 cm from the anal verge) are usually treated by abdominoperineal resection, especially for T3 lesions. Few data are available evaluating concomitant chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy for increasing sphincter-saving resection in low rectal cancer. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1999, 43 patients underwent preoperative radiochemotherapy with conservative surgery for a low rectal tumor located a mean of 4.5 cm from the anal verge (range 2-6); 70% of the lesions were less than 2 cm from the anal sphincter. There were 40 T3 and 3 T4 tumors. Patients received preoperative radiotherapy with a mean dose of 50 Gy (range 40-54) and concomitant chemotherapy with 5-FU in continuous infusion (n = 36) or bolus (n = 7). Sphincter- saving resection was performed 6 weeks after treatment, in 25 patients by using intersphincteric resection. Coloanal anastomoses were associated with a colonic pouch in 86% of the patients, and all patients had a protecting stoma. RESULTS: There were no deaths related to preoperative radiochemotherapy and surgery. Acute toxicity was mainly due to diarrhea, with 54% of grade 1 to 2. Four anastomotic fistulas and two pelvic hematomas occurred; all patients but one had closure of the stoma. Distal and radial surgical margins were respectively 23 +/- 8 mm (range 10-40) and 8 +/- 4 mm (range 1-20) and were negative in 98% of the patients. Downstaging (pT0-2N0) was observed in 42% of the patients (18/43) and was associated with a greater radial margin (10 vs. 6 mm; P =.02). After a median follow-up of 30 months, the rate of local recurrence was 2% (1/43), and four patients had distal metastases. Overall and disease-free survival rates were both 85% at 3 years. Functional results were good (Kirwan continence I, II) in 79% of the available patients (n = 37). They were slightly altered by intersphincteric resection (57 vs. 75% of perfect continence; NS) but were significantly improved by a colonic pouch (74 vs. 16%; P =.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that preoperative radiochemotherapy allowed sphincter-saving resection to be performed with good local control and good functional results in patients with T3 low rectal cancers that would have required abdominoperineal resection in most instances.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for upper rectal tumors

Background

Compared with traditional rectal resection, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is faster and safer. This retrospective study sought to assess the efficacy of TEM for lesions located in the upper rectum, ≥10 cm from the anal verge.

Methods

Data from all patients who underwent TEM for rectal lesions ≥10 cm from the anal verge between 2001 and 2010 at two medical centers in Israel were retrospectively analyzed. The study group comprised 96 patients (57 men, 39 women) who underwent 99 TEM procedures. Collected data included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, indications for surgery, operative findings and details, postoperative outcomes, and histopathologic findings. Long-term outcomes including local recurrence (LR) for benign lesions and LR and overall survival (OS) for malignant lesions were calculated. Categorical variables were calculated by frequency tables, and linear variables were represented by averages and standard deviation or median with the spread of variables. Survival and LR analysis was performed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression methods.

Results

The mean tumor distance from the  anal verge was  11.3 ± 2 cm and the median tumor size was 2 cm. Early postoperative outcomes were favorable, and no early postoperative mortality was reported. The postoperative morbidity rate was 10 %. For long-term outcomes, in the subgroup with benign lesions, after a median follow-up of 8.7 years, the LR rate was 5.1 %. In the group with malignant lesions, LR and OS rates were 6.9 and 87 %, respectively.

Conclusions

TEM for upper rectal lesions is feasible and may be safe in selected cases. Low morbidity rate, shorter operative time and length of stay, no mortality events, and favorable long-term outcomes support the use of TEM for the treatment of lesions in the upper rectum.     

Transanal Inside-Out Rectal Resection for Ultra-Low Rectal Cancer

ABSTRACT

Two major issues encountered in the surgical resection of low rectal cancers (tumor located <6 cm from anal verge) are tumor-free surgical resection margin and adequate fields of colo-anal pull-through anastomosis. The clinical consequences of ensuring gross tumor-free surgical resection margin by transanal inside-out rectal resection technique were assessed for ultra-low rectal cancer patients. From February 2009 to September 2011, ultra-low anterior resection with a new method of eversion of the rectum through the anal canal after resecting the distal rectum and colo-anal anastomosis extracorporally performed in 30 patients (age range, 41–80 years) was reviewed. All patients received preoperative neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) before the surgical resection. The median operating time was 265 min (range, 220–400 min), and the median intraoperative blood loss was 325 ml (range, 80–855 ml). No in-hospital mortality was noted among these patients. R0 resection (tumor-free margin range, 0.9–2.5 cm) was confirmed in all patients by pathologic reports, except one patient with 0.5 cm tumor-free margin. The new surgical technique of transanal inside-out rectal resection and colo-anal pull-through anastomosis for selected patients with ultra-low rectal cancers seems to be a safe and alternative procedure.     

经肛手套通路联合结肠镜微创手术治疗直肠肿瘤

目的：探讨经肛手套通路联合结肠镜微创手术治疗直肠肿瘤的可行性及疗效。方法杭州市第三人民医院肛肠外科自2012年10月至2013年3月,选择经评估适合行局部切除的直肠肿瘤患者8例,使用经肛手套通路联合结肠镜微创手术治疗。经肛手套通路的建立：将手套袖口连同扩肛器缝合固定于肛周,再将手套5指经由透明肛门镜翻转出肛门,将超声刀、无损伤肠钳和肠镜镜头分别从3个指套伸入并结扎固定。结果8例患者均成功完成肿瘤切除手术,制作手套入路装置平均耗时12．5（10．0～15．0） min,平均手术时间55．6（30．0～110．0） min,平均住院时间为5．0（3．0～8．0） d,术后病理提示绒毛状腺瘤3例,管状腺瘤2瘤,管状绒毛状腺瘤2例,锯齿状腺瘤1例,其中2例伴低级别上皮内瘤变,1例高级别上皮内瘤变,所有肿瘤组织标本边缘及基底部均为阴性。术后2例患者少量便血,随访1～5（中位3．1）月,无肿瘤复发。结论采用经肛手套通路联合结肠镜微创手术治疗直肠早期肿瘤具有简单和安全的特点,具有一定的应用价值。     

The EEA-stapling device in anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum. Technique and early recurrences

The EEA-autostapling device was used for the anastomosis in 34 patients operated upon with anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum. The lower border of the tumours was located between 6 and 20 cm from the anal verge and the distal margin free of tumour in the resected specimen was 4 cm (1-8 cm). The anastomoses were within 10 cm from the anal verge in 27 patients. Technical problems occurred in two patients. Eight cases showed incomplete tissue rings but anastomotic leakage was noted merely in four patients (12%). Wound infections were rare (6%). According to Dukes' classification the material comprised 15% Dukes' A, 32% Dukes' B. 38% Dukes' C and 15% Dukes' D. The patients were followed with clinical examinations, rectal palpation and sigmoidoscopy every 3-6 months after the operation. Early local recurrence (median value 5 months) was diagnosed in seven patients (21%). They had in common tumour in the lower part of the rectum, extramural spread and a short distal margin free of tumour. Three of these were classified as Dukes' D, three as Dukes' C and one as Dukes' B. It is concluded that early local recurrence after anterior resection may be due to local tumour spread but a decreased circular radicality may be another reason. The results demonstrate the need to define patients who might be treated by an abdomino-perineal excision even if the EEA-stapler makes a low rectal anastomosis possible.     

Transanal single-port microsurgery for rectal tumors: minimal invasive surgery under spinal anesthesia

Background

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) for rectal tumors has been introduced as an alternative approach to transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). TEM has some limitations, such as the need for special equipment, expensive cost, and steep learning curve. In this study, we address the technical feasibility of TAMIS under spinal anesthesia and its short-term postoperative outcomes.

Methods

From July 2011 to September 2012, 25 consecutive patients with middle or upper third rectal masses underwent TAMIS. Tumors were located 6–17 cm from the anal verge. After spinal anesthesia, a single-incision laparoscopic surgery port was inserted into the anal canal. With this access, conventional laparoscopic instruments, including a grasper and monopolar electrocautery and suction device, were used to perform the transanal excision. A hook-type monopolar electrocautery or harmonic scalpel was used for dissection. The defect of the rectum was closed by interrupted sutures. Data concerning demographics, details of operative procedure, postoperative pain, and pathologic results were collected prospectively. To evaluate anal sphincter injury, an endoanal ultrasonography and fecal incontinence severity index survey were performed at 3–6 months after the operation.

Results

Of the 25 patients, nine had adenocarcinomas, nine had neuroendocrine tumors, three had tubular adenomas with high-grade dysplasia, three had tubular adenomas, one had a tubulovillous adenoma, and one had a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The median distance from the tumor mass to the anal verge was 9.0 (range 6–17) cm. The median operative time was 45.0 (range 20–120) min. All patients received TAMIS without conversion to laparoscopic resection. There were no intraoperative complications or postoperative morbidity. The median postoperative hospital stay was 3.0 (range 2–7) days. No sphincter injury was detected by endoanal ultrasonography.

Conclusions

TAMIS under spinal anesthesia is a safe and feasible technique for resection of middle and upper rectal masses. Spinal anesthesia is adequate for this procedure.     

T1 adenocarcinoma of the rectum: transanal excision or radical surgery?

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest local excision may be acceptable treatment of T1 adenocarcinoma of the rectum, but there is little comparative data with radical surgery to assess outcomes and quantify risk. We performed a retrospective evaluation of patients with T1 rectal cancers treated by either transanal excision or radical resection at our institution to assess patient selection, cancer recurrence, and survival. METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery for T1 adenocarcinomas of the rectum (0-15 cm from anal verge) by either transanal excision (TAE) or radical resection (RAD) between January 1987 and January 2004 were identified from a prospective database. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. RESULTS: Three hundred nineteen consecutive patients with T1 lesions were treated by transanal excision (n = 151) or radical surgery (n = 168) over the 17-year period. RAD surgery was associated with higher tumor location in the rectum, slightly larger tumor size, a similar rate of adverse histology, and a lymph node metastasis rate of 18%. Despite these features, patients who underwent RAD surgery had fewer local recurrences, fewer distant recurrences, and significantly better recurrence-free survival (P = 0.0001). Overall and disease-specific survival was similar for RAD and TAE groups. CONCLUSION: Despite a similar risk profile in the 2 surgical groups, patients with T1 rectal cancer treated by local excision were observed to have a 3- to 5-fold higher risk of tumor recurrence compared with patients treated by radical surgery. Local excision should be reserved for low-risk cancers in patients who will accept an increased risk of tumor recurrence, prolonged surveillance, and possible need for aggressive salvage surgery. Radical resection is the more definitive surgical treatment of T1 rectal cancers.     

Curative resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma: abdomino-perineal vs anterior resection

OBJECTIVE: Local recurrence after abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum for tumours has been reported to occur in up to a third of patients in contrast to 4% after restorative anterior resection. METHOD: Low rectal tumours were defined as tumours within 8 cm of the anal verge and were treated by either stapled low anterior resection (SLAR) or abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum (APER). One hundred and seventy-eight patients with tumours in the lower third of the rectum (30% of 591 rectal cancers) underwent surgical resection between 1980 and 2001. Data were collected prospectively; 68 (38%) had SLAR and 110 (62%) had APER with median follow up of approximately 12 years; 54 SLAR (79%) and 76 APER (69%) had curative procedures on clinical and pathological criteria. RESULTS: Local and distant recurrence occurred in seven (13%) and eight (15%) patients in the SLAR group and six (8%) and 14 (18%) patients in the APER group, respectively. Overall 5-year survival was 63% and 60% in the SLAR and APER groups, respectively CONCLUSION: For rectal cancers within 8 cm of the anal verge, both procedures achieved equivalent results measured by low local recurrence rates and overall survival.     

腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术联合经肛门内括约肌切除术治疗超低位直肠癌

目的探讨腹腔镜全系膜切除术（TME）联合经肛门内括约肌切除术（ISR）对超低位直肠癌的治疗效果。方法对接受腹腔镜TME联合经肛ISR手术的35例超低位直肠癌患者的临床和随访资料进行回顾性分析。结果35例患者肿瘤下缘距肛门2～5（平均3．4）cm;高、中分化腺癌32例,绒毛状腺瘤癌变3例;pTNMⅠ期16例,ⅡA期15例,ⅢA期3例,ⅢB期1例。术后末端回肠造口狭窄1例,吻合口瘘3例（均为未行末端回肠造E1者）。经4～49（中位时间16）个月的随访．1例患者出现吻合口复发．1例死于肝转移。随访满1年的19例患者术后1年排粪次数为1～4次／d．控便时间5min以上。结论腹腔镜TME联合经肛ISR治疗超低位直肠癌具有根治、保肛和微创的优点!侣廊进行严格的病例选择．     

Importance of rectal extirpation for the therapy concept of low rectal cancers]

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of surgery of rectal carcinomas is to avoid a permanent colostomy by sphincter-sparing surgical procedures. A variety of different abdominoperineal resection rates is described in the literature. MATERIAL/METHOD: The study was performed in 2000 within the framework of a multicentric study including 282 hospitals.The purpose of the study was to document the quality of diagnosis and therapy for colorectal carcinomas.A total of 9477 patients were included in this study: 3402 suffering from a rectal carcinoma and 6075 suffering from a colon carcinoma. RESULTS: A total of 866 abdominoperineal resections was performed. This corresponds to an abdominoperineal resection rate of 27.4%. In 30.4% of all men and in 23.0% of all women an abdominoperineal resection was performed.Of all tumor patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection, 8.3% had a pT4 carcinoma and 57.5% a pT3 carcinoma.Adapted to the localization of the tumor in the rectum, i.e., the distance of the aboral tumor margin to the anal verge, the following abdominoperineal resection rates were found: <4 cm from the anal verge 84.6%, 4-7.9 cm 43.9%, 8-11.9 cm 5.8%, and 12-16 cm 0.5%.Intraoperative complications occurred in 11.8%, specific postoperative complications in 33.1%, and general postoperative complications in 27.4% of the patients.The postoperative lethality was 2.8%. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 21.7 days.Logistic regression identified the body mass index, gender, the distance of the carcinoma from the anal verge, and the T category as independent factors influencing the abdominoperineal resection rate. DISCUSSION: Despite an overall decrease in use, abdominoperineal resection will continue to play an important role for the surgical treatment of low rectal cancers in routine clinical practice in Germany.It will remain an individual decision for each patient whether the tumor and the patient allow sphincter preservation or whether abdominoperineal resection seems to be necessary.According to the results of the present study,a general definition of an abdominoperineal resection rate in an unselected group of patients should be viewed critically.     

Magnetic resonance imaging predicts sphincter invasion of low rectal cancer and influences selection of operation

BACKGROUND: With the development of numerous sphincter-saving surgical techniques in the last 2 decades, the indication for abdominoperineal resection in radical-elective operations has been markedly reduced. The preoperative assessment of the extent of local tumor growth is essential for the planning of the optimal surgical procedure. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved to be a reliable method for local staging of low rectal carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sphincter invasion in an unselected population with low rectal cancer. METHODS: From 1997 to 1999, 40 patients with histologically verified adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum (+/-5 cm above the linea dentata) without evidence of metastases underwent a MRI with a body coil (no anal endocoil). The MRI results were compared with the operative situs and with pathohistologic findings. RESULTS: An infiltration of the sphincter ani internus was observed in 11 cases (28%), and a combined infiltration of the sphincter ani internus and externus was found in 2 patients (5%). The median distance of the lower tumor edge to the upper border of the anal canal was 2.0 cm (range, 0-4.5 cm). No infiltration of the external sphincter was observed in patients with cancers above the anal canal. Nine patients (22%) were treated with intersphincteric resection and coloanal anastomosis, 12 (30%) with ultralow resection, and 11 (28%) with low anterior resection of the rectum in conjunction with coloanal anastomosis or a stapled anastomosis. Eight (17%) of the patients were treated with abdominoperineal resection. CONCLUSION: An infiltration of the internal sphincter occurs only in 28% of low rectal cancers; an infiltration of the external anal sphincter is extremely rare and occurred only in patients with cancers located in the anal canal. Pelvic MRI offers a precise preoperative visualization of sphincter infiltration in patients with low rectal cancers and is therefore a valuable tool for planning of rectal surgery.     

Transvaginal resection of a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor

We herein report a case in which a rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was resected transvaginally. The patient, a 45-year-old female, had a rectal GIST on the anterior wall of the lower rectum. The tumor was within 6?cm of the anal verge, a location which would normally require performing an ultra-low anterior resection using the Double Staple Technique, and a diverting stoma. To minimize the invasiveness of treatment and to reduce the postoperative morbidity, a transvaginal resection was performed. Under general anesthesia, the posterior vaginal mucosa was incised vertically. The tumor was then excised en bloc with the overlying rectovaginal septum and rectal mesenchymal tissue. The defect was repaired primarily, and a diverting stoma was not required. The procedure was uncomplicated, and the patient was discharged home with an intact anal sphincter function and no abdominal incisions. In female patients, transvaginal resection of low anterior rectal lesions may provide a minimally invasive alternative to the traditional ultra-low anterior resection.     

Sphincter-saving resection for all rectal carcinomas: the end of the 2-cm distal rule

OBJECTIVE: To assess oncologic outcome of patients treated by conservative radical surgery for tumors below 5 cm from the anal verge. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Standard surgical treatment of low rectal cancer below 5 cm from the anal verge is abdominoperineal resection. METHODS: From 1990 to 2003, patients with a nonfixed rectal carcinoma at 4.5 cm or less from the anal verge and without external sphincter infiltration underwent conservative surgery. Surgery included total mesorectal excision with intersphincteric resection, that is, removal of the internal sphincter, to achieve adequate distal margin. Patients with T3 disease or internal sphincter infiltration received preoperative radiotherapy. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients with a tumor at 3 (range 1.5-4.5) cm from the anal verge underwent conservative surgery. There was no mortality and morbidity was 27%. The rate of complete microscopic resection (R0) was 89%, with 98% negative distal margin and 89% negative circumferential margin. In 58 patients with a follow-up of more than 24 months, the rate of local recurrence was 2% and the 5-year overall and disease-free survival were 81% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of intersphincteric resection permits us to achieve conservative surgery in patients with a tumor close to or in the anal canal without compromising local control and survival. Tumor distance from the anal verge is no longer a limit for sphincter-saving resection.