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.     

经肛门内镜显微手术治疗直肠肿瘤12例

为探讨经肛门内镜显微手术（TEM）治疗直肠肿瘤的手术效果,回顾分析12例行TEM的直肠肿瘤患者资料。结果显示,12例直肠肿瘤均获完整切除,平均手术时间90min（60-200min）。无术后出血、吻合口感染、吻合口漏。2例术后肛门轻度疼痛,2例暂时性不完全性肛门失禁。术后病理示9例腺瘤（管状腺瘤3例,绒毛状腺瘤4例,管状绒毛状腺瘤2例,其中2例伴高级别上皮内瘤变）,1例肌层内有钙化灶,1例直肠黏膜炎性组织,1例低危间质瘤（直径〈1．0cm）。随访1～12个月,1例管状腺瘤患者于术后3个月局部复发。结果表明,TEM治疗良性直肠腺瘤和早期直肠癌安全、有效。     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Minimally invasive treatment of synchronous colorectal tumours

In patients with colorectal cancers synchronous neoplastic lesions are an increasingly frequent finding at preoperative staging; 3% of the cases are other cancers while 33-35% of the synchronous lesions are villous adenomas. The treatment of most colorectal adenomas can be performed by endoscopic poplypectomy. In 5% of cases there are synchronous colorectal lesions also requiring surgical treatment. From January 1995 to June 2007 we treated 5 patients with rectal lesions by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) together with a laparoscopic colectomy for the presence of synchronous lesions at the "Clinica Chirurgica Generale e d'Urgenza" of the University of Perugia,. Surgical timing involved performing a sequential exeresis characterised by a cancer resection, followed by resection of the voluminous adenoma: TEM for rectal cancer followed by a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with an extracorporeal anastomosis for a voluminous villous adenoma (1 patient) and laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with an extracorporeal anastomosis for cancer followed by TEM for a voluminous villous adenoma (2 patients). One patient with left colon cancer associated with a voluminous villous rectal adenoma first underwent TEM for the rectal adenoma and then a left laparoscopic hemicolectomy with an extracorporeal anastomosis in order to ease the transit of the circular mechanical stapler. Another patient with rectal and right colon adenomas first underwent TEM for a voluminous rectal sessile adenoma and later a right hemicolectomy. The use of this minimally invasive approach allowed rectum preservation and less invasive surgery.     

Is transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) a valid treatment for rectal tumors?

Background: In 1983 G. Buess, in Germany, developed transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of rectal tumors. Methods: Rectal lesions are excised through a modified rectoscope of 40 mm in diameter under stereoscopic control in the gas-dilated rectal cavity. Full-thickness excision, partialwall excision, or mucosectomy can be performed. Seventy-one patients were treated with the TEM technique in our department. Major complications were observed in one patient (1.4%). No mortality was reported. Results: Histological examination revealed 40 (56.3%) villous adenomas, 6 (8.4%) pT1; 17 (23.9%) pT2; 5 (7%) pT3 carcinomas; and 3 (4.2%) other lesions. The recurrence rate was 2.8% for adenomas and 2.8% for carcinomas. The overall survival at mean follow-up of 17 months was 96.4%. Conclusions: The advantages of TEM are less or no post-operative pain, unrestricted mobility, short hospitalization, quick rehabilitation, and absence of skin scars.Selected for the Free papers session for EAES awards at the Third International Congress on New Technology and Advanced Techniques in Surgery, Luxembourg, June 13–17, 1995     

An evaluation of transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal adenoma and carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery was introduced in the early 1980s. Since then, increasing numbers of rectal adenomas are being excised by this technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate our institution's experience with transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal adenoma and carcinoma. METHODS: Seventy-five patients (adenomas, n = 58) underwent more than 90 TEM resections over a period of 5 years. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were minimal with 3% (n = 2) in the adenoma group requiring transfusion and 0% 30-day mortality. One patient in each group developed transient fecal incontinence. During the follow-up period, 6 patients (10%) in the adenoma group underwent further local resections for their recurrences. Two patients in the carcinoma group (1 each of pathological T1 and T2 stage) developed recurrence at 24 months. A female with a T2 tumor was found to have an inoperable lesion and underwent sigmoid colostomy. Five of 17 patients had postoperative radiotherapy, and 2 patients developed radiation enteritis. Four patients died during follow-up due to unrelated reasons. CONCLUSION: The transanal endoscopic microsurgery technique appears to be safe and associated with minimal morbidity. Careful selection of patients with thorough preoperative assessment is necessary for carcinoma patients. Patients with T1 lesions and favorable histology should only be considered for curative resection by this technique.     

经肛门微创外科手术在直肠癌的临床应用

相对于直肠癌根治术而言,直肠癌局部切除术具有手术创伤小、风险低、能保肛以及术后无性功能和泌尿功能障碍等优点。经肛门内镜微创手术（TEM）是近年来国际上较为盛行的一种直肠癌局部切除技术．同传统的局部切除术相比．TEM具有优良的术野显露和宽敞的操作空间,更配有制造精良、性能优越的多种手术器械,为外科医师在术中精细的组织解剖、精准的肿瘤切除、降低和避免肿瘤切缘不足或切缘阳性提供了极佳的手术条件和技术上的保障。术前准确评估、仔细遴选病例以及严格掌握手术指征是获得良好疗效的基础。TEM最佳的适应证为直肠腺瘤高级别瘤变（Tis期）、T1期中低危组直肠癌以及癌仅侵及sm1和sin2的患者。经过新辅助治疗后降期明显（肿块缩小大于50％者）的T,期和L期直肠癌也可进入TEM的研究性治疗。TEM术中对病灶行局部根治性切除是预防肿瘤术后复发的关键。     

经肛门内镜微创手术治疗32例直肠腺瘤

目的 评估经肛门内镜微创手术（TEM）治疗直肠腺瘤临床应用的安全性及疗效.方法 2006年9月至2010年2月共32例术前诊断为直肠腺瘤的患者接受TEM治疗,总结其治疗结果.结果 全组患者肿瘤直径0.6～10.0（2.31.2）cm.手术时间为20～180（平均70）min,术中平均出血量小于10 ml,无中转开腹手术.22例（68.8%）行创面缝合,其中全层切除14例;有2例上段直肠肿瘤行全层切除时切穿至腹膜腔,予腔内连续缝合修补破损,术后均未发生肠漏.R0切除31例（96.9%）.术后病理示单纯腺瘤12例;腺瘤伴低级别上皮内瘤变10例;腺瘤伴高级别上皮内瘤变5例;腺瘤局灶癌变5例,均为T1期.术后并发肛门出血、急性尿潴留和肺部感染各1例.术后平均住院时间为4.5（3～8）d;平均随访23（2～43）个月,2例出现复发.结论 TEM手术创伤小、切除精确,是一种对直肠较大腺瘤安全有效的微创手术方法.     

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.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is superior to transanal excision of rectal adenomas

Aim Comparison of transanal excision (TE) and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) of rectal adenomas (RA) has rarely been performed. Method From 1990 to 2007, the results of TE (43 RA) and TEM (216 RA) were compared. Rectal adenomas were matched for diameter and distance from the anal verge. Results Operation time was 47.5 min for TE and 35 min for TEM (P < 0.001). Morbidity was 10% after TE and 5.3% after TEM (P < 0.001). Negative resection margins were observed in 50% after TE and 88% after TEM (P < 0.001). Fragmentation of the excised specimen was observed in 23.8% after TE and 1.4% after TEM (P < 0.001). In cases of fragmentation, positive resection margins were observed more frequently. Recurrence was 28.7% after TE and 6.1% after TEM (P < 0.001). After TE, RA with a negative resection margin had a local recurrence rate of 0%, compared with 59.6% with a positive margin (P < 0.001), and after TEM these rates were 3.2 and 7.7% (P = 0.3), respectively. Conclusion Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is superior to transanal excision of RA.     

Follow-up after transanal endoscopic microsurgery or transanal excision of large benign rectal polyps

Methods: Between January 1986 and December 1995, 238 patients with benign rectal polyps under-went either transanal endoscopic microsurgery (n = 226) or transanal excision (n = 12) at the Clinic of General and Abdominal Surgery, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz. Results: Mean polyp size was 4.2 cm; 89.1% of polyps measured more than 2 cm in diameter. In 89.1% of cases, histological analysis revealed polyps containing tubulovillous or villous adenomas. Synchronous colonic polyps were detected in 12.5% of patients. Follow-up data are available on 222 patients (94%). At follow-up examination, 169 of the 193 surviving patients (87.6%) were recurrence free. Seven of 193 patients (3.6%) had developed neoplastic colonic polyps and, in 17 patients (8.8%), metachronous polyps were detected. Conclusions: Transanal endoscopic microsurgical polypectomy was furthermore demonstrated to be a low-risk procedure with a low recurrence rate for the complete resection of large rectal polyps. At a follow-up rate of 61.1%, the incidence of metachronous carcinoma ranged at 3.1%, which is markedly below the rate of 8–18% for tubulovillous or villous adenomas larger than 1 cm in diameter cited in the literature. Received: 24 October 1997 / Accepted: 13 July 1998     

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 and radical surgery for T1 and T2 rectal cancer

Background: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has gained increasing acceptance as a local treatment of early rectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of TEM and radical surgery in patients with T1 and T2 rectal cancer. Methods: From October 1994 to December 2000, 74 patients with T1 and T2 rectal adenocarcinoma treated with TEM were compared with 100 patients with T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 rectal adenocarcinoma treated with radical surgery. Retrospective analysis was performed regarding to recurrence and survival rate. Neither group received adjuvant chemoradiation. There was no significant difference in age, gender, tumor location, or follow-up period between the two groups. The only difference was in tumor size. Results: Of the 74 patients in TEM group, 52 were T1 (70.3%) and 22 were T2 (29.7%). Of the 100 patients in radical surgery group, 17 were T1 (17%) and 83 patients were T2 (83%). The 5-year local recurrence rates were 4.1% for T1, 19.5% for T2 after TEM, 0% for T1, and 9.4% for T2 after radical surgery. There was no statistical difference between the TEM and radical surgery groups for T1 rectal cancer (p = 0.95), but for T2 rectal cancer, the 5-year local recurrence rate was higher after TEM than after radical surgery (p = 0.04). There were no significant statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the 5-year disease-free survival rate and the survival rate. Conclusions: For T1 rectal cancer, there was no difference in recurrence or 5-year survival rate between the TEM and the radical surgery groups. For T2 rectal cancer, there was no statistical difference in the 5-year survival rate between the two groups, but TEM carried higher risk of local recurrence. Therefore, careful selection of the patients is required for TEM, and when proper muscle invasion is proven, the TEM procedure should be supplemented by further treatment, or radical surgery should be performed. Presented at the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) meeting and the 8th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, New York, New York, USA, 13–16 March 2002     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery in large,sessile adenomas of the rectum

The clinical and long-term results of 286 cases encountered from 1983 to 1993 in our Department of Surgery regarding the local excision of large, sessile rectal adenomas (>2cm²) by the endoscopic surgical method and the influence of this selected series of adenomas on age, sex, size, grade of dysplasia, and architecture are subjects of this study. Histologically proven rectal carcinomas as well as nonneoplastic polyps were excluded from this trial.Early postoperative complications amounted to 3.4%. The 1-year and 5-year recurrence rates ±SE of adenomas were 1.2±0.7% and 7.0±1.9%, respectively. Remarkably, there was no significant relationship between the histological type of the adenoma and the grade of dysplasia nor between the size and grade of dysplasia. However, there was a significant relationship between the size and histological type of the adenoma (P<0.01).With the endoscopic minimal-invasive system, we are able to achieve a superior rate of recurrence compared to any other local treatment as well as a more favorable operative result compared to extensive surgical procedures.     

Outcomes for early rectal cancer managed with transanal endoscopic microsurgery

Background This study aimed to evaluate the long-term risk of local and distant recurrence as well as the survival of patients with early rectal cancer treated using transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). Methods The study reviewed 69 patients with T_is/T₁/T₂ rectal cancer treated using full-thickness excision between 1991 and 1999. The pathology T-stages included 25 T_is, 23 T₁, and 21 T₂. The median follow-up period was 6.5 years (range 5–10.2 years). Results The overall local recurrence rate was 8.7%. The 5-year local recurrence rate was 8% for T_is, 8.6% for T₁, and 9.5% for T₂. All six patients with recurrence were managed surgically. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 100% for T_is, 100% for T₁, and 70% for T₂. The overall cancer-related mortality rate was 7.2%. Conclusions After local excision of early rectal cancer, a substantial local recurrence rate is observed. Patients with recurrent T_is/T₁ cancers who undergo a salvage operation may achieve good long-term outcome. Local treatment without adjuvant therapy for T₂ rectal cancers appears inadequate. Presented in part at the Annual Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) meeting, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA, 13–16 April 2005     

Preoperative staging of patients with rectal tumors suitable for transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM): comparison of endorectal ultrasound and histopathologic findings

Background  Accurate preoperative staging is the key to correct selection of rectal tumors for local excision. This study aims to assess the accuracy of endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) at our institution. Patients and methods  Retrospective analysis was carried out of patients treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) from 1996 to 2008. TEM was considered the treatment of choice for uT0-1/N0 lesions located between 2 and 12 cm from the anal verge. It was also proposed in selected uT2-3 patients. Preoperative staging was compared with histopathologic findings. Results  Eighty-one patients (46 males, mean age 66 years) underwent TEM. Mean distance of the tumor from the anal verge was 6.6 cm (range 2–12 cm). ERUS staged 15 of 27 adenomas (55%) as uT1. Of 54 carcinomas, 5 were pT0 because TEM was performed to remove resection margins of a malign polyp already snared. Five of 19 pTis (26%) were overstaged uT1, while 7 of 17 pT1 (41%) were understaged. Overall, ERUS enabled distinction between early and advanced rectal lesion with 96% sensitivity and 85% specificity, giving accuracy of 94% (65/67). Thirteen patients had advanced lesions (eight pT2 and five pT3). Only in two of them (15%) was depth of invasion underestimated by ERUS (one uT0, one uT1) and thus was subsequent salvage surgery necessary. Conclusions  ERUS is useful to confirm the diagnosis of adenoma and predict depth of mural invasion in early rectal cancer. Differentiation between T0/is and T1 lesions remains challenging, however this does not usually influence surgical strategy.     

Decision for salvage treatment after transanal endoscopic microsurgery

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has emerged as an alternative to classic radical operation for early rectal cancer. Early rectal cancer can be treated by adequate local excision such as TEM. If there are adverse risk factors, especially poor cellular differentiation, close resection margin, or positive lymphovascular invasion or incomplete excision, a radical resection is indicated. This study aimed to clarify the factors related to recurrence for patients required to undergo a salvage operation after TEM. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 167 patients who underwent TEM for rectal cancer between 1994 and 2004. Of these patients, 36 with poor differentiation, mucinous carcinoma, proper muscle invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and positive resection margin were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients, 12 underwent a salvage operation, and the remaining 24 did not because of poor physical condition or refusal of radical surgery. There were a total of 6 (16.7%) recurrences. One (8.3%) of the 12 patients who underwent salvage surgery had systemic recurrence. Five (20.8%) of the 24 patients who did not receive surgery had recurrence (3 local recurrences, 2 distant recurrences). Analysis of the subgroups showed that 2 (28.6%) of 7 patients with lymphovascular invasion had recurrence, and that 1 patient (100%) had a T3 lesion. Three (17.6%) of 17 patients had T2 lesions. CONCLUSIONS: For high-risk patients, TEM followed by radical surgery is the most beneficial in preventing local recurrence. Radical salvage surgery is strongly recommended if pathologic results after TEM show T3 lesion or lymphovascular invasion.     

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of rectal cancer: comparison of wound complication rates with and without neoadjuvant radiation therapy

Background  Neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer has led to improved tumor downstaging and higher complete pathologic response rates. At the same time, the introduction of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) technique has renewed interest in local excision of rectal cancer. There has been concern that radiation may make the more radical local excision with TEM unsuitable. Our study compared morbidity rates and wound complication rates for patients undergoing TEM and local excision with and without neoadjuvant radiation to determine whether this could be accomplished safely. Methods   Data for all patients undergoing TEM are prospectively entered into a database. This database was queried for patients with rectal cancer undergoing TEM from November 1997 to June 2007. Of 64 patients identified, 2 were excluded because of previous radiation to the pelvis. Results   The study enrolled 62 patients with a final pathologic diagnosis of rectal cancer: 43 treated using neoadjuvant therapy with radiation (XRT) and 19 patients treated with TEM alone. The patients in the XRT group were 67 years of age (range, 29–86 years) and included 13 women. The patients in the non-XRT group were 66 years of age (range, 40–89 years) and included 8 women. Neither group had any mortalities. The overall morbidity rate was 33% for the XRT group and 5.3% for the non-XRT group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The wound complication rates were 25.6% for the XRT group (11 patients) and 0% for the non-XRT group (p = 0.015). Nine patients in the XRT group (82%) had minor wound separations, and two patients (18%) had major wound separation. Ten patients with wound separations were treated as outpatients and administered long-term oral antibiotics. One patient required additional surgery (diverting stoma). Conclusions  Not unexpectedly, the wound complication rate was higher in the XRT group. However, 82% of those wounds were minor, and 91% were treated without any additional surgery or intervention. Although a significant concern, wound complications do not prohibit TEM treatment after neoadjuvant treatment. Presented orally at the 2008 meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).