Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal cancer

The Outcome of Local Excision of Rectal Adenomas with High-Grade Dysplasia by Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Local excision by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is considered an acceptable treatment for rectal adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (HGD). This study aims to assess the likelihood of harboring an invasive carcinoma in preoperatively diagnosed HGD polyps and evaluate the risk factors for tumor recurrence in patients with final HGD pathology. Methods: Data from patients who underwent TEM procedures for adenomatous lesions with HGD from 2005 to 2018 at the Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, were analyzed. Collected data included patient demographics, preoperative workup, tumor characteristics and postoperative results. Follow-up data including recurrence assessment and further treatments were reviewed. The analysis included two subsets: preoperative pathology of HGD (sub-group 1) and postoperative final pathology of HGD (sub-group 2) patients. Results: Forty-five patients were included in the study. Thirty-six patients had a preoperative diagnosis of HGD, with thirteen (36%) showing postoperative invasive carcinoma. Thirty-two patients had a final pathology of HGD, and three (9.4%) experienced tumor recurrence. Large tumor size (>5 cm) was significantly associated with recurrence (p = 0.03). Conclusions: HGD rectal polyps are associated with a significant risk of invasive cancer. Tumor size was a significant factor in predicting tumor recurrence in patients with postoperative HGD pathology. The TEM procedure is an effective first-line treatment for such lesions.

Initial application of transanal endoscopic microsurgery for high-risk lower rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor after imatinib mesylate neoadjuvant chemotherapy: A case report

RATIONALE

The lower rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare entity and warrants special attentions because of the considerations of preserving of anal and urinal functions. Neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate (IM) has achieved great success in GIST, which potentially extends the applications of function-preserving minimally invasive surgical procedures. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well-developed minimally invasive technique for benign tumors in lower rectum. Herein, we reported the initial application of TEM for high risk GIST after IM treatment.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 52-year-old woman suffered mild lower abdominal pain and perianal discomfort. Physical examination found a soft mass 4 cm far away from anal verge. Rectal MRI and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) showed that there was a 1.9 × 1.6 cm submucosal mass in the lower rectum. The incisional biopsy was performed and the pathological result reported it was a high-risk GIST.

DIAGNOSES

High-risk lower rectal GIST.

INTERVENTIONS

IM was given for neoadjuvant therapy. Then TEM was adopted to resect the residual tumor. IM was restored 4 weeks after surgery.

OUTCOMES

The final pathological results reported the margin was clear. After an 18-month follow up, no recurrence and metastasis was found and the patient had a satisfactory anal and urinal functions.

LESSONS

TEM in combination with IM could be a practical strategy for the high-risk lower rectal GIST simultaneously to achieve curative resection and to preserve the anal and urinal functions that can significantly improve the life quality of the patients.