Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal tumors: experience at Korea’s National Cancer Center

Background

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive alternative to transanal excision, enabling complete local excision of selected benign or malignant rectal tumors. This study aimed to determine the surgical and oncologic results for rectal tumors excised by TEM.

Methods

From November 2001 to October 2007, 45 patients underwent TEM for excision of adenoma (13 patients), carcinoid tumor (6 patients), and carcinoma (26 patients). The patients included 27 men and 18 women with a median age of 52 years (range, 22–72 years).

Results

The median tumor distance from the anal verge was 7 cm (range, 3–15 cm), and the median tumor size was 17 mm (range, 2–60 mm). There was no procedure-related morbidity or mortality. However, one patient with rectal carcinoma died of lung cancer during the follow-up period. Of 13 patients with adenomas, 1 patient (7.7%, 1/13) experienced local recurrence 5 months after surgery. No recurrence occurred for six patients with carcinoid tumors. Histologic examination of the carcinomas showed pathologic tumor (pT) stage 0 (ypT0) in 2 patients, pT1 in 17 patients (including ypT1 in 1 patient), pT2 in 6 patients, and pT3 in 1 patient. Immediate salvage surgery was performed for five patients (19%, 5/26). During a median follow-up period of 37 months (range, 5–72 months), one patient (3.8%, 1/26) experienced local recurrence. The overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates for patients with carcinoma were 96.2% and 88.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

The TEM procedure is a safe and appropriate surgical treatment option for benign rectal tumors. With strict patient selection, it is oncologically safe for early-stage rectal carcinomas.     

Long-term results in patients with T2-3 N0 distal rectal cancer undergoing radiotherapy before transanal endoscopic microsurgery

BACKGROUND: Local excision after radiotherapy for node-negative low rectal cancer may be an alternative to radical excision. This study evaluated the results of local excision in patients with small (less than 3 cm in diameter) T2 and T3 distal rectal tumours following neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: One hundred patients with rectal cancer (54 uT2 and 46 uT3 uN0 tumours) were enrolled. All patients underwent preoperative radiotherapy followed by local excision by means of transanal endoscopic microsurgery. RESULTS: Definitive histological examination revealed nine pT1, 54 pT2 and 19 pT3 tumours. A complete response (R0) or microscopic residual tumour (R1mic) was found in three and 15 patients respectively. Minor complications occurred in 11 patients and major complications in two. At a median follow-up of 55 (range 7-120) months, the local failure rate was 5 per cent and metastatic disease was found in two patients. The cancer-specific survival rate at 90 months' follow-up was 89 per cent, and the overall survival rate 72 per cent. Salvage abdominoperineal resection was performed in three patients, two of whom were disease free at 15 and 19 months. CONCLUSION: Treatment of small uT2 and uT3 uN0 rectal cancers with preoperative high-dose radiotherapy followed by transanal endoscopic microsurgery is an acceptable alternative to conventional radical resection.     

Postoperative morbidity and recurrence after local excision of rectal adenomas and rectal cancer by transanal endoscopic microsurgery

OBJECTIVE: Tumours in the middle and upper part of the rectum are not easy accessible to local excision. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has been recommended for excision of sessile adenomas in the middle and upper part of the rectum, and for small cancers in patients not fit for major surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative morbidity and local recurrence after TEM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients were treated by TEM in the period 1994-2001. The median age was 74 years. The indications for TEM were rectal adenoma in 72 patients and rectal cancer in 7 patients. The tumours were located within 18 cm from the dentate line, median 10 cm. There were performed 69 transmural and 10 mucosal excisions. Mean follow up was 24 months (range 1-95 months). Twenty (25%) patients died during the follow up period, two because of metastases and 18 of other causes. RESULTS: Seven patients had complications. Two (2.5%) patients had peroperative perforation in the intra-abdominal part of the rectum treated by laparotomy. Five (6%) patients had postoperative cardiopulmonal or surgical complications. Eight patients with benign pre-operative histopathological examination had cancer. The local recurrence rate (13%) was similar for adenomas and for carcinomas. CONCLUSION: TEM is a safe technique well tolerated also by high-risk patients, and should be the preferred method in patients with benign tumours in the middle and upper part of the rectum, and in selected cases of early rectal cancer. Benign pre-operative histology does not preclude malignancy and some patients may need further treatment for unexpected malignancy.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for carcinoma of the rectum

Background The authors present their experience with rectal cancers managed by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). Methods This prospective study investigated patients undergoing primary TEM excision for definitive treatment of rectal cancer between January 1996 and December 2003 by a single surgeon in a tertiary referral colorectal surgical unit. Results For this study, 52 patients (30 men and 22 women) underwent TEM excision of a rectal cancer. Their mean age was 74.3 years (range, 48–93 years). The median diameter of the lesions was 3.44 cm (range, 1.6–8.5 cm). The median distance of the lesions from the anal verge was 8.8 cm (range, 3–15 cm), with the tumor more than 10 cm from the anal verge in 36 patients. The median operating time was 90 min (range, 20–150 min), and the median postoperative stay was 2 days. All patients underwent full-thickness excisions. There were 11 minor complications, 2 major complications, and no deaths. The mean follow-up period was 40 months (range, 22–82 months). None of the pT1 rectal cancers received adjuvant therapy. Eight patients with pT2 rectal cancer and two patients with pT3 rectal cancer received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The overall local rate of recurrence was 14%, and involved cases of T2 and T3 lesions, with no recurrence after excision of T1 cancers. Three patients died during the follow-up period, but no cancer-specific deaths occurred. Conclusions The findings warrant the conclusion that TEM is a safe, effective treatment for selected cases of rectal cancer, with low morbidity and no mortality. The TEM procedure broadens the range of lesions suitable for local resection to include early cancers (pTis and pT1) and more advanced cancers only in frail people.     

Optimal preoperative assessment and surgery for rectal cancer may greatly limit the need for radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Radiation is being used increasingly in the management of patients with rectal cancer. Over the past decade the Basingstoke Colorectal Research Unit has combined precision total mesorectal excision with the highly selective use of preoperative radiotherapy. METHODS: One hundred and fifty consecutive patients who underwent major surgical excision for cancers of all stages comprised the study group. Preoperative clinical assessment was based largely on tumour size, fixation and distance from the anal verge. Only preoperative radiotherapy was considered and this only for tumours judged to be at high risk of mesorectal fascia involvement. RESULTS: During a 5-year period 35 of 150 patients were selected for preoperative irradiation. In the non-irradiated patients the local recurrence rate after a median follow-up period of 870 (range 51-1903) days was 2.6 per cent (three of 115 patients), compared with 17.1 per cent (six of 35 patients) in those chosen for irradiation. Sixty patients (52.2 per cent) who were not irradiated were node positive. The local recurrence rate for the whole group was 6.0 per cent. CONCLUSION: The great majority of patients undergoing major excision for rectal cancer can be managed without radiation therapy if the preoperative assessment of the mesorectal fascia and surgery are performed optimally.     

Surgical technique and outcome of gasless video endoscopic transanal rectal tumour excision

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is unpopular because of its high cost and most surgeons' unfamiliarity with microscopic surgery. This report describes an experience with a modification of TEM, gasless video endoscopic transanal rectal tumour excision (gasless VTEM), which incorporates a standard laparoscopic video camera and requires no carbon dioxide insufflation system. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with 105 rectal tumours underwent gasless VTEM between 1993 and 2000.RESULTS: Histological examination revealed 18 adenomas, 75 carcinomas (Tis, 47; T1, 23; T2, five), 11 carcinoid tumours and one lymphoma. The median height above the dentate line and maximum tumour diameter was 5.0 (range 2-14) cm and 2.0 (range 0.4-8.0) cm respectively. The peritoneal cavity was opened intraoperatively in two patients. The median operating time was 53 (range 15-202) min. Bleeding, suture dehiscence and transient incontinence developed after operation in four patients. There was no operative death. Median hospital stay was 5 (range 1-21) days. Eleven patients with T1/T2 staging underwent subsequent radical resection. The median duration of follow-up was 52.3 months. One patient with a carcinoma developed a recurrence. CONCLUSION: Gasless VTEM is a feasible, safe and minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of selected rectal adenomas and early carcinomas. The suggested modifications may make the procedure more widely available.     

Villous tumours of the large bowel

A series of 110 patients with villous tumours of the colon and rectum treated by a single surgeon over an 18-year period is reported. Multiple lesions were present in 15 per cent of patients and 24 per cent of cases contained invasive malignancy, of which 83 per cent were Dukes' A. The major lesion was in the rectum in 84 per cent of patients and in the sigmoid colon in 12 per cent. Rectal bleeding and diarrhoea were the most common presenting symptoms; 6 per cent of patients were asymptomatic. Digital assessment proved a more reliable indicator of the presence of malignancy than either random biopsy or barium enema. In all, 70 of 76 (92 per cent) benign rectal lesions and 15 of 22 (68 per cent) malignant rectal lesions were successfully removed by peranal submucous excision or snaring and none of the malignancies so treated has developed a recurrence to date. Benign recurrence has developed in 13 per cent of all patients; the majority appeared within 4 years and were at the same level as the initial lesion. Of the 79 patients with benign tumours 7.6 per cent have subsequently developed large bowel carcinomas, after 2-16 years; all were symptomatic, half were at the same level as the previous benign lesion, and half were suitable for peranal removal.     

Impact of total mesorectal excision on the results of surgery of distal rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study reviewed the results of surgery for distal rectal cancer (tumours within 6 cm of the anal verge) following the introduction of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer in one institution. METHODS: Two hundred and five patients who had undergone surgical resection of rectal cancer within 6 cm of the anal verge were included. The demographic, operative and follow-up data were collected prospectively. Comparisons were made between patients who had different surgical procedures. RESULTS: Abdominoperineal resection (APR) was performed in 27.8 per cent of patients, falling from 36.0 per cent in the first 3 years to 20.0 per cent in the last 3 years of the study. The overall operative mortality rate was 1.5 per cent and the morbidity rate 30.2 per cent. With a mean follow-up of 36 months, local recurrence occurred in 28 of the 185 patients who had curative resection. The 5-year actuarial local recurrence rates for double-stapled anastomosis, peranal coloanal anastomosis and APR were 11.2, 34.6 and 23.5 per cent respectively. The local recurrence rate was significantly lower for double-stapled low anterior resection than for the other types of operation. The overall 5-year survival rate in patients with low anterior resection and APR was 69.1 and 51.1 per cent respectively (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: With the practice of total mesorectal excision, APR was necessary in only 27.8 per cent of patients with rectal cancer within 6 cm of the anal verge. The local recurrence rate was much lower in patients with double-stapled low anterior resection than in those treated with APR or peranal anastomosis.     

Indications and results of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the treatment of rectal tumours in a consecutive series of 52 patients

Introduction

The abdominal approach for the treatment of rectal tumours is associated with considerable morbidity. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a technical alternative, and less invasive than radical surgery, and thus, with a lower associated morbidity. Also, with the correct selection of patients, TEM shows similar oncological results to radical surgery. The objective of this study is to review our results with TEM and discuss its indications in the treatment of rectal tumours.

Patients and method

An observational, retrospective study with prospective collection of data conducted from June 2008 to January 2011. TEM indications were: benign rectal tumours non-resectable using colonoscopy; early malignant rectal tumours (T₁N₀M₀) with good prognostic factors: neoplastic tumours in more advanced stages in selected patients (high surgical risk, refused radical surgery or stoma and palliative care).

Results

A resection was performed using TEM on 52 patients (35 benign and 17 malignant tumours). The mean hospital stay was 4.9 days, with an associated morbidity of 15.3%. The R₀ resection in adenomas and carcinomas was 97.1% and 88.8% respectively. During a follow-up of 15 (3-31) months, one recurrence of an adenoma was observed which was re-operated on using TEM.

Conclusions

TEM is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of benign and selected early malignant rectal tumours, and is associated with a low morbidity. However, it is a therapeutic strategy based on a multidisciplinary team, basically with careful selection of patients, a validated technique and a strict follow-up protocol.     

直肠癌经肛门内镜显微手术疗效及复发危险因素分析

目的 分析直肠癌经肛门内镜显微手术（TEM）疗效及复发危险因素,以探讨直肠癌TEM适应证.方法 对2006年6月至2009年6月间山东省千佛山医院胃肠外科收治的60例行TEM的直肠癌患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 本组直肠癌pTis期12例,pT1期38例 pT2期10例.全部病灶均一次性全层整块切除,标本切缘均阴性.手术时间30～190（65.0±36.5）min,术中失血量9～75（10.5±5.8）ml,住院时间3～9（4.5±2.7）d,无手术死亡和严重并发症出现.随访时间12～48（平均28.5）个月,无一例死亡.pTis患者均未现复发 38例pT1期患者中1例（2.6%）出现局部复发 10例pT2期患者中有4例（40.0%）出现局部复发,显著高于pT1期患者（P＜0.05）.肿瘤直径大于3 cm的21例患者中有4例复发,显著高于肿瘤直径小于3 cm者（1/39,P＜0.05）.多因素复发危险因素分析证实,浸润深度和肿瘤大小是TEM术后复发的独立风险因素.结论 对pTis、pT1期及肿瘤小于3 cm的早期直肠癌患者,TEM安全有效,值得推广.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: risk factors for local recurrence of benign rectal adenomas

OBJECTIVE: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive technique for excision of selected benign and malignant rectal neoplasms. It is considered a safe and effective treatment but recurrence rates of 1-13% are reported for benign lesions. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for local recurrence of benign rectal lesions and to evaluate mortality and morbidity following TEM. METHOD: Data were prospectively collected from all patients undergoing TEM for benign adenomas from January 1998 to March 2005. The procedure was performed by a single surgeon and patients were regularly followed up. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-six procedures were included, with a median patient age of 74 years (range 22-92 years). The mean lesion area was 16 cm(2) (range 0.3-150 cm(2)) and the median distance from the dentate line was 9 cm (range 0-17 cm). Immediate complications included bleeding (six) and acute urinary retention (six). There has been one (0.68%) procedure-related death. After a median follow up of 39 months (range 4-89 months) there have been seven recurrences (4.8%), recurring at a mean time of 23.3 months (range 5-48 months). Only microscopic involvement of the circumferential resection margin was found to be significantly associated with recurrence (P = 0.0059). Recurrence was not associated with age, size of lesion, previous treatment, severity of dysplasia or use of the harmonic scalpel. CONCLUSION: TEM is a safe and effective treatment for benign rectal adenomas. Circumferential resection margin involvement is associated with recurrence, which tends to occur late. Therefore extended follow up is recommended.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: where are we now?

AIMS: This review of literature aimed to assess the role and establish the current status of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in the management of benign and malignant rectal lesions. METHODS: A review of the literature was undertaken through the Medline database and by cross-referencing previous publications, thus identifying 54 relevant publications on TEM in the management of rectal lesions. Aggregated results of various parameters were calculated but statistical comparisons deemed unsuitable due to heterogeneity of data. RESULTS: The TEM procedure is associated with good functional results, morbidity of 4% and zero procedure-related mortality. The local recurrence rates after TEM excision is 4.5% (range 0-14) for benign rectal lesions, 6% (0-13) for T(1) cancers, 14% (range 0-50) for T(2) cancers and 20% (range 14-67%) for T(3) cancers. Local recurrences after TEM can be surgically salvaged with good disease free survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: The TEM procedure clearly offers the benefits of good exposure of the operative field allowing extremely precise dissection and access to high rectal lesions unresectable by other methods. For pTis and low risk pT(1) lesions, the oncological results are comparable to the more traditional formal resection. The routine use of TEM for high-risk pT(1) and higher stage lesions is not an oncologically sound choice at the present moment.     

Local excision of giant rectal polypoid neoplasms

Local excision is the best therapeutic option for giant adenomas of the rectum. Parks technique for lower rectal lesions and the T.E.M. technique for lesions localised in the middle and upper rectum offer exceptionally good exposure, allowing radical excision in the case of early low-risk T1 adenocarcinomas (well or moderately differentiated [G1/2] without lymphovascular invasion [L0]). From July 1987 to March 2006, 224 patients were treated by local excision for rectal lesions in our department. In 48 patients (21.4%) a large sessile benign lesion was diagnosed preoperatively. In 3 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of severe dysplasia (Tis) final pathology showed adenoma and for this reason they were included in our study group. A total of 51 patients with giant preoperative benign lesions were treated by local excision (Parks technique, T.E.M. or both). Twenty-five (49%) patients had a definitive diagnosis of adenocarcinoma: in situ (pTis) in 22 patients (88%), pT1 in 2 patients (8%) and pT2 in 1 patient (4%). In 26 patients (51%) the diagnosis was adenoma. The overall local recurrence rate was 9.8% (5/51); the recurrence rate was 7.6% (2/26) for adenomas and 12% (3/25) for carcinomas. The median hospital stay was 7 days (range 3-39). There was no operative mortality. Giant sessile polypoid lesions localized in the middle and upper rectum are best treated with T.E.M., while Parks technique is a good option in lower rectal tumours. These techniques, if correctly indicated and well performed, offer great advantages in terms of safety and radicality. In our experience the operative mortality was nil and the morbidity and recurrence rates were low.     

Long-term outcome of per anum intersphincteric rectal dissection with direct coloanal anastomosis for lower rectal cancer

OBJECTIVE: The authors have performed per anum intersphincteric rectal dissection. With direct coloanal anastomosis for cases of lower rectal cancer in which the distal surgical margin is difficult to secure by the double stapling technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome and to clarify the surgical indications for this operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1993 and 2002, 31 patients underwent per anum intersphincteric rectal dissection with direct coloanal anastomosis. Of these, two patients (one stage 0 and one stage IV) were excluded from the analysis of oncological outcome. The remaining 29 patients formed the basis of this study. The median follow-up was 57 months (range 6-106 months). RESULTS: Local recurrence and distant metastasis developed in 9 and 3 patients, respectively. Local recurrence rate for pT1 was significantly lower than that for pT2/T3 disease. The local recurrence rate cases with tumours less than 3 cm was significantly lower than that for tumours sized 3 cm or more. The distant metastasis rate for cases with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that for cases without lymph node metastasis. There was an association between distant metastasis and TNM or pT stage. The overall survival rates for stage I, II and III were 85%, 80% and 89%, respectively. No significant difference was seen in total Cleveland Clinic incontinence score between per anum intersphincteric rectal dissection with direct coloanal anastomosis and the double stapling technique. CONCLUSION: The surgical indications of this operation should be limited to patients with T1 rectal cancer or tumours less than 3 cm.     

Carcinoma of the rectum: a 10-year experience

A consecutive series of 303 patients with carcinoma of the rectum and distal sigmoid colon treated by a single surgeon over a 10-year period are reported. Of these, 202 underwent an anterior resection, 85 an abdominoperineal excision of the rectum and 16 a coloanal anastomosis. Surgery was considered palliative in 52 patients undergoing anterior resection and 24 undergoing abdominoperineal resection. The 30-day hospital mortality rate was six patients (3 per cent) for anterior resection and two patients (2 per cent) for abdominoperineal resection. Peroperative anastomotic testing demonstrated leakage in five stapled anastomoses; these were rectified and no clinical sequelae occurred. Two patients (1 per cent) developed a clinical anastomotic leak, one of which proved fatal; in each case the intraoperative test was negative. The overall 5-year survival rate was 64 per cent after anterior resection and 52 per cent after abdominoperineal resection; the median follow-up was 64 months. The incidence of local pelvic recurrence was 6.4 per cent after anterior resection and 14 per cent after abdominoperineal (not significant). These results confirm the success of sphincter-saving anterior resection combined with total mesorectal excision, routine full mobilization of the splenic flexure and cancercidal lavage of the distal rectum in the treatment of low rectal carcinomas; morbidity, local recurrence and survival are not compromised.     

Cost analysis of transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal tumours

OBJECTIVE: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is considered to be a safe and effective treatment for selected rectal neoplasms. We demonstrate that in addition to the recognized clinical benefits of the less invasive TEM approach, there are substantial economic benefits. METHOD: We reviewed our prospective database of patients undergoing TEM excision of a rectal lesion between July 1997 and December 2003. A cost analysis was undertaken, including procedural and related costs of TEM and compared with the relevant open procedures. RESULTS: 124 patients (80 men, 44 women) with a median age of 71.5 years underwent TEM excision of rectal lesions (52 cancers and 72 adenomas). The morbidity rate was 8% and mortality was zero. A controlled case series of 52 patients undergoing open resection for early rectal cancers with similar characteristics as above was compared in terms of clinical outcome. The morbidity rate in these patients was 29.5%. The cost analysis comparison was undertaken using National Health Service mean reference costs for major large intestinal surgery, Intensive care unit/high dependency unit and hospital accommodation for each procedure. The average cost of open resection was 4135 pound, vs 567 pound for TEM excision. Our total saving over the series was 525,576 pound. Although the initial capital cost of the TEM equipment is high at approximately 40,000 pound given the massive cost savings, these initial equipment costs are recovered within a rapid time frame. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that TEM is a safe and extremely cost-effective approach for excision of selected rectal tumours including rectal adenomas and early well differentiated rectal cancers (pTis & pT1).     

Long-term results of patients with pT2 rectal cancer treated with radiotherapy and transanal endoscopic microsurgical excision

Anterior resection and abdomino-perineal resection are the surgical techniques used most frequently in the treatment of rectal cancer. Local recurrence rates of 10% to 14% are described after these conventional procedures. Preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy reduces local failure. Because local excision techniques can be applied to treat early rectal cancer in selected patients, we evaluated the results of preoperative high-dose radiotherapy and transanal endoscopic microsurgical excision (TEM) in patients with T2 rectal cancer. All patients underwent preoperative irradiation with 5,040 cGy, divided over 5 weeks. Forty days after completion of radiotherapy, the patients underwent complete full-thickness local excision of the rectal lesion including adjacent perirectal fat by TEM. The patients were followed for up to 8 years. Thirty-five patients, with pT2 rectal cancer as determined by pathological examination of the surgical specimen were enrolled in the present study. The tumors were responsive to preoperative radiotherapy in 82.8% of cases. No intraoperative complications and no conversion to open surgery were observed. No major complications and no mortality occurred during the 60-day postoperative period. Minor postoperative complications were observed in 5 patients (14.3%). The median follow-up of the patients was 38 months (range 24 to 96 months). One local recurrence (2.85%) was noted. The probability of surviving at 96 months after completion of treatment was 83%. Local excision by TEM combined with preoperative high-dose radiotherapy can achieve results similar to those observed after conventional surgery in patients with pT2 rectal cancer.     

Surgical strategy in primary retroperitoneal tumours

Sixty-nine patients with primary retroperitoneal tumours (17 benign, 52 malignant including 4 malignant tumours of uncertain origin) were reviewed to determine the best form of surgical strategy. Total resection was performed in 88 per cent of benign cases and in 65 per cent of malignant cases. In 62 per cent of the total resections for malignant tumours, en bloc excision included adjacent organs or anatomical structures. Operative mortality rate (in terms of the total number of operations performed) was 5 per cent. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 per cent and recurrences in 35 per cent. The overall 5-year survival rate was 67 per cent in patients with totally resected tumours and zero in patients whose tumours were treated by partial resection or biopsy. An aggressive surgical approach aimed at total excision of the tumour is the best form of therapy currently available. In the totally resected retroperitoneal tumour, the use of adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy depends on the grade of the malignancy and clearance as assessed histologically. Careful follow-up based on the use of computerized axial tomography and ultrasound allows early identification of recurrence at a stage when the recurrence is amenable to total resection.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: local recurrence rate following resection of rectal cancer

Objective Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a safe and effective treatment for the excision of benign rectal adenomas. In recent years it has been used for the excision of malignant lesions, although its use in this context remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the local recurrence of rectal cancers following local excision by TEM. Method Forty‐two patients with rectal cancer were treated by TEM between 1998 and 2005. However, six patients went on to have immediate radical surgery and are excluded from the study. Of the remaining 36 the treatment intention was for cure in 16 (38.1%), compromise in 17 patients unfit for radical surgery (40.5%), and palliation in three (7.1%). Results The mean age of patients was 75 years (range 41–90). The mean lesion area was 15 cm² (range 0.8–42) and mean distance from the dentate line was 6.6 cm (range 0–11). The mean follow up was 34 months (range 4–94). During the follow‐up period there have been eight local recurrences (22%). The recurrence rates were 26% (6/23) for pT1, 22% (2/9) for pT2 and 0% (0/4) for pT3 lesions. The mean time to recurrence was 18.3 months (range 5–42). Conclusion Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a safe procedure with obvious advantages over radical procedures. However, in this study the local recurrence rate is high. The recurrence rate may be an acceptable compromise in elderly or medically unfit patients but is hard to justify for curative intent.