Intraoperative angiography with indocyanine green to assess anastomosis perfusion in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Insufficient vascular supply is one of the main causes of anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery. Intraoperative indocyanine-green (ICG) angiography has been shown to provide information on tissue perfusion, identifying a well-perfused location for colonic and rectal transections, and thus possibly reducing the leak rate. Aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative assessment of anastomotic perfusion using ICG angiography in patients undergoing left-sided colon or rectal resection with colorectal anastomosis.

METHODS

This randomized trial involved 252 patients undergoing laparoscopic left-sided colon and rectal resection randomized 1:1 to intraoperative ICG or to subjective visual evaluation of the bowel perfusion without ICG. The primary aim was to assess whether ICG angiography could lead to a reduction in anastomotic leak rate. Secondary outcomes were possible changes in the surgical strategy and postoperative morbidity.

RESULTS

After randomization, 12 patients were excluded. Accordingly, 240 patients were included in the analysis; 118 were in the study group, and 122 in the control group. ICG angiography showed insufficient perfusion of the colic stump, which led to extended bowel resection in 13 cases (11%). An anastomotic leak developed in 11 patients (9%) in the control group and in 6 patients (5%) in the study group (p = n.s.).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative ICG fluorescent angiography can effectively assess vascularization of the colic stump and anastomosis in patients undergoing colorectal resection. This method led to further proximal bowel resection in 13 cases, however, there was no statistically significant reduction of anastomotic leak rate in the ICG arm.

CLINICAL TRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02662946.

A prospective, randomized trial comparing the short- and long-term results of doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoid dearterialization with mucopexy versus excision hemorrhoidectomy for grade III hemorrhoids

BACKGROUND

Few randomized trials have compared the results of Doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoid dearterialization with mucopexy and excisional open hemorrhoidectomy. Few studies have reported long-term results.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of Doppler-guided transanal hemorrhoid dearterialization with mucopexy compared with excisional open hemorrhoidectomy in patients with grade III hemorrhoids.

DESIGN

This is a prospective randomized study registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01263431). A power analysis assessed the study's sample size. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo either hemorrhoidectomy or Doppler-guided hemorrhoid dearterialization plus mucopexy. The χ test, Mann-Whitney U test, Student t test, and a regression model were used, as appropriate.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.

PATIENTS

Fifty consecutive patients were treated for grade III hemorrhoids from July to November 2010.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was postoperative pain. The secondary outcomes included postoperative morbidity, the resumption of social and/or working activity, patient satisfaction, and the relapse of symptoms at 1 and 24 months.

RESULTS

No major complications occurred in either group. The median visual analog scale scores for pain in the hemorrhoidectomy and Doppler-guided dearterialization plus mucopexy groups on days 1, 7, 14, and 30 were 7 vs 5.5, 3 vs 2.5, 1 vs 0, and 0 vs 0 (p> 0.05). The median work resumption day was the 22nd in the hemorrhoidectomy group and the 10th in the Doppler-guided dearterialization plus mucopexy group (p = 0.09). Patient satisfaction at 1 and 24 postoperative months, with the use of a 4-point scale, was 3 vs 4 and 4 vs 4 (p > 0.05). During the follow-up, 2 patients in the dearterialization group required ambulatory treatment, and 1 patient in each group required further surgery for symptom relapse.

LIMITATIONS

Nonvalidated questionnaires were used in the follow-up. Cost analysis was not performed.

CONCLUSION

Compared with hemorrhoidectomy, dearterialization with mucopexy resulted in similar postoperative pain and morbidity, and a similar long-term cure rate.

Comparison of glycerine trinitrate and botulinum toxin-a for the treatment of chronic anal fissure: long-term results

PURPOSE

This study was designed to compare the efficacy of two different "chemical sphincterotomies" for chronic anal fissure.

METHODS

From January to December 2001, 30 consecutive patients (17 males; mean age, 41.8 years) with chronic posterior anal fissure were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 0.2 percent glycerine trinitrate ointment applied three times daily at the anal margin for eight weeks (Group A) or 20 units Botulinum toxin A injection into the internal anal sphincter on each side of the anterior midline (Group B). The patients were reviewed at 15 days, 1, 3, 6, 12, and every other 12 months. Follow-up ranged between 36 and 46 months. Patients in either group who failed to improve were referred for surgical treatment.

RESULTS

Twelve patients in Group A and 11 in Group B had improvement or relief from symptoms at the first visit. The fissure was healed in ten patients in Group A and in eight in Group B within three months (66.7 and 57.1 percent). Recurrence of the fissure occurred in five patients in each group during the follow-up. The healing rate at three years was 40 and 33.3 percent for Group A and B, respectively. No patients in either group reported serious adverse effects; however, three patients in Group A (20 percent) had transient headache. None had fecal incontinence.

CONCLUSION

Both treatments may be considered as first-line treatment even if less effective than surgery.

Standard versus extralevator abdominoperineal low rectal cancer excision outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The extended, extralevator abdominoperineal excision has been described with the aim of improving oncological low rectal cancer patient outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, and Ovid for standard and extralevator abdominoperineal rectal cancer excision studies between 1995 and 2013. A total of 1,270 articles were identified and screened, and of these, 58 reports (1 randomized, 5 case-control and 52 cohort studies) were included for the qualitative analysis, and 6 were included for the quantitative analysis. The primary endpoints included intraoperative tumor perforation, the circumferential resection margin involvement, local recurrence rate, and the perineal wound complication rate. The secondary endpoints included the length of postoperative hospital stay and quality of life. Comprehensive Rev Men, version 5.2 was used for the statistical calculations.

RESULTS

A significant difference in the circumferential resection margin involvement rate [odds ratio (OR) 2.9; p < .001], intraoperative perforation (OR 4.30; p < .001), local recurrence rate (OR 2.52; p = .02), and length of hospital stay (OR 1.06; p < .001) in favor of the extended group was observed. Additionally, the perineal wound complications were higher in the extended group (OR 0.62; p = .007). No difference in quality of life was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis confirms the oncological advantages of the extended abdominoperineal excision method. Although the perineal wound complications were higher, the length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter, and quality of life was not inferior to the conventional resection method.

Bowel perforation in a Covid-19 patient: case report

INTRODUCTION

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), it became evident that a proportion of patients may present with gastrointestinal symptoms.

CASE

We report the case of a Covid-19-infected patient who, during recovery from the pulmonary pneumonia, had gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a diastasic right colon perforation due to acute over distension of the bowel.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of paying attention to initial gastrointestinal symptoms in order to prevent possible complications.

How reliable is current imaging in restaging rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy?

In patients with advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant chemo radiotherapy provides tumor downstaging and downsizing and complete pathological response in up to 30% of cases. After proctectomy complete pathological response is associated with low rates of local recurrence and excellent long term survival. Several authors claim a less invasive surgery or a non operative policy in patients with partial or clinical complete response respectively, however to identify patients with true complete pathological response before surgical resection remains a challenge. Current imaging techniques have been reported to be highly accurate in the primary staging of rectal cancer, however neoadjuvant therapy course produces deep modifications on cancer tissue and on surrounding structures such as overgrowth fibrosis, deep stroma alteration, wall thickness, muscle disarrangement, tumor necrosis, calcification, and inflammatory infiltration. As a result, the same imaging techniques, when used for restaging, are far less accurate. Local tumor extent may be overestimated or underestimated. The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination, rectal ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography using 18F-fluoro-2'-deoxy-D-glucose ranges between 25% and 75% being less than 60% in most studies, both for rectal wall invasion and for lymph nodes involvement. In particular the ability to predict complete pathological response, in order to tailor the surgical approach, remains low. Due to the radio-induced tissue modifications, combined with imaging technical aspects, low rate accuracy is achieved, making modern imaging techniques still unreliable in restaging rectal cancer after chemo-radiotherapy.

Evaluation of rectal sensory and motor function by means of the electronic barostat after stapled hemorrhoidopexy

PURPOSE

Stapled hemorrhoidopexy is designed to replace the hemorrhoids into the anal canal by excising the redundant rectal mucosa above the anorectal ring, thus resulting in an intrarectal suture. Few studies have evaluated rectal function after this procedure. This prospective study was designed to use the electronic barostat to assess whether rectal motor and sensory functions change after stapled hemorrhoidopexy.

METHODS

Ten patients (4 women, mean age, 46 +/- 9 years) with third-degree and fourth-degree hemorrhoids who underwent stapled hemorrhoidopexy were studied. One week before and six months after surgery, they underwent three different rectal distensions (pressure-controlled stepwise, volume-controlled stepwise, and ramp) controlled by an electronic barostat.

RESULTS

Rectal distensibility was significantly lower after surgery during pressure stepwise (P = 0.01), during volume stepwise (P = 0.006), and during ramp distension (P = 0.001). Volume thresholds for desire to defecate, urgency, and discomfort were significantly lower after surgery during all three distensions (P < 0.05). Volume threshold for first perception also was significantly lower after surgery during volume ramp distension (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Rectal distensibility and volume thresholds for sensations decrease after stapled hemorrhoidopexy. These impairments persist for at least six months after surgery.

Sentinel node biopsy in squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal

BACKGROUND

Radiochemotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with carcinoma of the anal canal. Therefore, a surgical specimen is not usually obtained. Inguinal lymph node metastases cannot be accurately predicted by either clinical examination or imaging techniques. In this study, we applied the sentinel node technique in patients with anal canal squamous-cell carcinoma to determine whether this provided more reliable staging of tumors.

METHODS

From May 2007 to May 2009, we enrolled 11 patients (7 women) with a mean age 65 (range 39-80) years with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal and clinically and radiologically negative groin lymph nodes. The patients were staged with endorectal ultrasound, computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis, and positron emission tomography. There were two T1, four T2, and five T3 tumors (International Union Against Cancer classification). Lymphoscintigraphy with peritumoral 99mTc colloid injection was performed 16 to 18 h before surgery. During the surgery, patent blue dye was injected peritumorally, and the sentinel inguinal node was identified by a handheld gamma probe and dye visualization.

RESULTS

The sentinel lymph node was detected in all 11 patients by scintigraphy; in 9 cases, the lymph node was in the inguinal region. All of these patients underwent radioguided node biopsy, and a total of 12 lymph nodes were removed. The average diameter of the resected nodes was 8 (range 4-20) mm. No serious complications occurred. In three patients, metastases were identified in the lymph node.

CONCLUSIONS

Sentinel node biopsy is a more accurate method than clinical or radiological techniques to stage the disease of patients with anal carcinoma.

Manometric evaluation of anorectal function in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

An altered anorectal function is reported after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery for rectal cancer.

AIM

The aim of this study was to clarify the relative contribution of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgical resection on the impairment of anorectal function as evaluated by anorectal manometry.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with rectal cancer, who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and laparoscopic rectal resection, were evaluated with the Pescatori Faecal Incontinence score, and with anorectal manometry: before neoadjuvant therapy (T0), after neoadjuvant therapy and before surgery (T1), 12 months after stoma closure (T2).

RESULTS

Resting and/or maximum squeeze pressure and/or volume thresholds for urgency were below the normal values in 12 (30%) patients at baseline. After CRT the mean resting pressure significantly decreased (p=0.007). Surgery determined a significantly decrease of the resting pressure (p=0.001), of the maximum squeeze pressure (p=0.001) and of the volume threshold for urgency (p=0.001). Impairment of continence was reported by 5, 11 and 18 patients at T0, T1 and T2, with a mean incontinence score of 3, 3.8 and 3.9 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

CRT is detrimental to the function of the internal anal sphincter. Rectal resection significantly affects both internal and external anal sphincter function and the maximum tolerated volume of the neo-rectum, particularly in patients with low rectal cancer, significantly impairing anal continence.

New approach to anal cancer: individualized therapy based on sentinel lymph node biopsy

Oncological treatment is currently directed toward a tailored therapy concept. Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal could be considered a suitable platform to test new therapeutic strategies to minimize treatment morbidity. Standard of care for patients with anal canal cancer consists of a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This treatment has led to a high rate of local control and a 60% cure rate with preservation of the anal sphincter, thus replacing surgical abdominoperineal resection. Lymph node metastases represent a critical independent prognostic factor for local recurrence and survival. Mesorectal and iliac lymph nodes are usually included in the radiation field, whereas the inclusion of inguinal regions still remains controversial because of the subsequent adverse side effects. Sentinel lymph node biopsies could clearly identify inguinal node-positive patients eligible for therapeutic groin irradiation. A sentinel lymph node navigation procedure is reported here to be a feasible and effective method for establishing the true inguinal node status in patients suffering from anal canal cancer. Based on the results of sentinel node biopsies, a selective approach could be proposed where node-positive patients could be selected for inguinal node irradiation while node-negative patients could take advantage of inguinal sparing irradiation, thus avoiding toxic side effects.

Relation between skeletal muscle volume and prognosis in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy

The prognostic role of body composition indexes, and specifically sarcopenia, has recently been explored in different cancer types. However, conflicting results have been reported. Heterogeneity in cancer type, cancer stage or oncological treatments, as well as different methodology and definition of sarcopenia, could be accounted for different conclusions retrieved from literature. When focusing on colorectal cancer, it clearly appears that colon and rectal cancers are often treated as a single entity though they have different behaviors and treatments. Particularly, patients with advanced rectal cancer represent a peculiar group of patients that according to current guidelines are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by radical surgery. This review was restricted to a homogeneous group of patients with advanced lower rectal cancer and the aim of exploring whether there is a correlation between skeletal muscle depletion and prognosis. Literature was searched for articles related to patients with advanced rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NCRT) followed by radical surgery, in whom muscle mass and/or change in muscle mass during neoadjuvant treatment were measured. Eight full-text articles were selected and included in the present review. The main findings of our review were: (1) The majority of the studies defined sarcopenia as muscle mass alone over muscle strength or physical performance; (2) There was a great deal of heterogeneity in the definition and measures of sarcopenia, in the definition of cut-off values, and in the method to measure change in muscle mass; (3) There was not full agreement on the association between sarcopenia at baseline and/or after chemo-radiotherapy and prognosis, and only few studies found a significance in the multivariate analysis; and (4) It seems that a loss in skeletal muscle mass during NCRT is associated with the worst outcomes in terms of disease-free survival. In conclusion, analysis of muscle mass might provide prognostic information on patients with rectal cancer, however more robust evidence is needed to define the role of muscle depletion and/or muscle change during neoadjuvant treatments, related to this specific group of patients. If a prognostic role would be confirmed by future studies, the role of preoperative intervention aimed at modifying muscle mass could be explored in order to improve outcomes.

Changes in body composition during neoadjuvant therapy can affect prognosis in rectal cancer patients: An exploratory study

AIM

To establish the correlation between changes in body composition after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and postoperative outcomes, in patients with advanced low rectal cancer.

METHODS

Patients with clinical stage T≥3 or N+ rectal cancer who underwent nCRT and surgical resection were studied. Skeletal muscle, visceral, and subcutaneous fat cross-sectional area were measured by computed tomography before and after nCRT. Postoperative morbidity, pathologic response to nCRT, overall and disease-free survival was assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients, median age 62 (range 32-79) were studied. A skeletal muscle loss >2% significantly correlated with a shorter disease-free survival both in the overall population (P = 0.048) and in the subgroup of N0 patients (P = 0.048). A subcutaneous fat loss >5% was also associated with a shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.012) in the whole population.

CONCLUSIONS

Skeletal muscle loss, after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, negatively impacts on disease-free survival in surgically treated rectal cancer patients.

Laparoscopic treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis with rectal involvement

PURPOSE

Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic excision of deep pelvic endometriosis with extensive rectal involvement causing severe symptoms.

METHODS

Ten patients, mean age 32 years (range, 27-43), with deep pelvic endometriosis and rectal wall involvement, requiring surgical resection, were studied since January 2004. Prior to surgery and 6 months postsurgery, patients completed a 100-point rank questionnaire on intensity of intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms. A laparoscopic approach was performed by a team of a gynecologist and colorectal surgeons.

RESULTS

At surgery, complete excision of infiltrating endometriosis was achieved, with 7 low rectal resections, 2 rectosigmoid resections, and 1 proctectomy with coloanal anastomosis. Additional procedures were: ureter resections (n = 2) with one reimplantation in the bladder, left ovariectomies (n = 2), ovarian endometrioma resections (n = 4), and laser ablation of superficial peritoneal lesions (n = 4). In four cases, a laparotomic conversion was needed. Mean follow-up was 27.6 months (range, 18-37). Neither intraoperative nor postoperative serious complications were observed. All the patients experienced significant improvement of intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic resection of deep pelvic endometriosis with rectal involvement can be successful in improving digestive and gynecologic symptoms; however, this approach is challenging with a high rate of laparotomic conversion.

Does inferior mesenteric artery ligation affect outcome in elective colonic resection for diverticular disease?

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to analyse the role of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation during elective colonic resection for diverticular disease (DD) with respect to surgical outcome.

METHODS

All patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or open colonic resection for DD from January 2006 to December 2012 were studied. The patients were divided into two groups based on IMA ligation or preservation. The primary end point was to compare anastomotic leakage in the two groups. The secondary end points were operative time, stoma formation, overall post-operative complications, restoration of bowel function and length of post-operative hospital stay.

RESULTS

During the study period, 219 elective colonic resections with primary anastomosis for DD were performed. A laparoscopic technique was employed in 132 (60.3%) cases. IMA ligation was performed in 66 patients (30.1%). Overall anastomotic leakage rate was 4.1%, 4.5% in IMA ligation and 3.9% in IMA preservation group, respectively (P = ns). Mean operative time was 225 ± 43.4 and 191 ± 41.7 min in IMA ligation and preservation group, respectively (P = 0.002). No differences were observed in the rate of overall complications, stoma formation, restoration of bowel function and post-operative length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

No differences were observed in surgical outcome in IMA ligation and preservation groups, particularly preservation or ligation of the IMA did not affect leakage rate.

Recurrent giant liposarcoma of the spermatic cord

A giant recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma of the spermatic cord was removed in a 40-year-old man. The tumor measured 50 cm and weighed 42 Kilograms. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have little role in this neoplasm. Despite the huge dimension of the mass surgery was successfully undertaken without relapse at 12 months follow-up.

Hemorrhoid laser dearterialization: systematic review and meta-analysis

Hemorrhoidal disease is a common and troublesome condition. Excisional hemorrhoidectomy can assure the best chance of cure but it is hampered by postoperative pain and potential long-term morbidity therefore minimally invasive techniques have been developed. Since 2009 a doppler-guided hemorrhoidal dearterialization with laser (the hemorrhoidal laser procedure; HeLP) has been proposed to control symptoms without significant sequelae. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the benefits and disadvantages of HeLP for symptomatic hemorrhoids. The Medline/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were searched from January 2010 to March 2022, language was restricted to English and documents to the full text. Randomized and non-randomized, prospective and retrospective cohort studies were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Risk of bias for non-randomized studies (ROBINS-I) and the RoB2 Tool for randomized clinical trial. Primary outcome was to assess the efficacy of HeLP on symptoms' resolution. Secondary objectives were postoperative pain and complications, comparison with other interventional techniques, and evaluation of long-term recurrence. Whenever possible, a meta-analysis was conducted. The GRADE approach was employed to assess the certainty of evidence. We included six non-randomized and one randomized study. HeLP improved or resolved preoperative symptoms in 83.6 to 100% of patients during follow-up. In the randomized study symptoms resolved in 90% of patients after HeLP and 53.3% after rubber band ligation as comparator. Published data indicate that HeLP is effective, relatively safe, with limited recurrence rate, after a short to medium follow-up. The quality of evidence was however low. There is a paucity of studies assessing the benefits or harms of laser dearterialization for the treatment of hemorrhoids and randomized trials are furthermore rare, therefore trials with adequate power and proper design, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of HeLP versus other minimally invasive techniques, are needed. Furthermore, studies evaluating long-term follow-up are wanted.

Tailoring the radiotherapy approach in patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma based on inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to analyze the results of selective inguinal node irradiation in patients with anal cancer, based on the biopsy of the inguinal sentinel lymph node (SLN), in terms of local control and prognosis.

METHODS

Records of patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2001 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Tc99 lymphoscintigraphy was performed in all the clinically inguinal negative patients, followed by radio-guided surgical removal of the inguinal SLN. All patients were treated with combined radiochemotherapy. In patients with negative sentinel nodes, the inguinal area was excluded in the radiotherapy field.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients, 76 females (61.8%), mean age 60.1 ± 12.19 years old, underwent intraoperative lymph node retrieval. The histological analysis showed metastasis in the SLN in 28 patients (22.8%). The mean follow-up was 43.44 ± 31.86 months. No inguinal recurrence was observed in patients with negative inguinal sentinel node(s). A statistically significant difference was observed for overall and disease-free survivals in a patient with positive and negative inguinal sentinel nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with anal canal cancer, the exclusion of the inguinal regions from the radiotherapy field, in patients with negative SLN, does not compromise locoregional control nor prognosis.

Prognostic role of ultrasonography staging in patients with anal cancer

BACKGROUND

Carcinomas of the anal canal are staged according to the size and extent of the disease; however, we propose including a novel ultrasound (US) staging system, based on depth of tumor invasion. In this study the clinical American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging guidelines and the US classificationss in patients with anal cancer were compared.

AIM

To evaluate the prognostic role of the US staging system in patients with anal cancer.

METHODS

The data of 48 patients with anal canal squamous cells carcinoma, observed at our University Hospital between 2007 and 2017, who underwent pre-treatment assessment with pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), total body computed tomography (CT) scan and endoanal US were retrospectively reviewed. Anal canal tumors were clinically staged according to AJCC, determined by MRI by measurement of the longest tumor diameter, and CT scan. Endoanal US was performed with a high multi-frequency (9-16 MHz), 360° rotational mechanical probe; US classification was based on depth of tumor penetration through the anal wall, according to Giovannini's study. All patients were treated with definitive radiation combined with 5-fluorouracile and Mitomycin-C. After treatment patients were followed-up regularly.

RESULTS

At baseline there were 30 and 32 T1-2, 18 and 16 T3-4, 31 and 19 N+ patients classified according to the clinical AJCC and US staging system respectively. After a mean follow-up of 98 months, 38 patients (79.1%) are alive and 28 (58.3%) are disease free. During follow up 20 patients (41.6%) experienced recurrences. After univariate analysis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P = 0.00000001) and US staging (P = 0.009) were significantly related to disease-free survival (DFS). When overall survival and DFS functions were compared, a statistically significant difference was observed for DFS survival when the US staging was applied with respect to the clinical AJCC staging. By combining the 2 significant prognostic variables, namely the US staging with the ASA score, four risks groups with different prognoses were identified.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that US staging may be superior to traditional clinical staging, since it is significantly associated with DFS in anal cancer patients.

A Gender Perspective on Coloproctological Diseases: A Narrative Review on Female Disorders

Coloproctological diseases, including both benign and malignant conditions, are among the most common diagnoses in clinical practice. Several disorders affect both men and women, while others are unique to women, or women are at a greater risk of developing them. This is due to anatomical, biological, and social conditions and also due to females' exclusive capabilities of reproduction and pregnancy. In this context, the same proctological disease could differ between men and women, who can experience different perceptions of health and sickness. There is a raised awareness about the impact of different diseases in women and a growing need for a personalized approach to women's health. In this review, we aim to summarize the specific features of the main coloproctological diseases, specifically in the female population. This includes common complaints during pregnancy, conditions linked to vaginal delivery, functional consequences after colorectal resections, and conditions presenting a gender disposition.