Carcinoma of the rectum: current management

Low anterior resection versus abdominoperineal excision: a comparison of local recurrence after curative surgery for "very low" rectal cancer

In the controversy regarding whether sphincter-saving resection (SSR) or abdominoperineal resection (APER) is more appropriate for the treatment of very low rectal cancer, local recurrence rates seem to play a fundamental role in patient outcome. In order to operate an effective patient selection, very low rectal cancer is defined herein as being located within 4.5 to 7.5 cm from the anal verge. This retrospective report investigates the incidence of local recurrence after curative surgery for very low rectal carcinoma in 24 consecutive patients treated by the same surgical team over a 15-year period using the above surgical procedures. In the APER group, the local recurrence rate was 45.5%, occurring in 5 of 11 cases; and in the SSR group 46.1%, occurring in 6 of 13 cases, with no significant difference between the two groups. Recurrence was found within one year of surgical treatment in all except one case. Despite the strict follow-up program, it was only possible to perform reoperation in two recurrent cases, both previously submitted to SSR and diagnosed by means of transanal ultrasonography and macrobiopsy. The high incidence of local recurrence in this series is explained by the advanced stage of disease in the majority of cases. Thus, as the choice between APER and SSR does not seem to affect the incidence of local recurrence, which is related more to tumor size, site, stage, and grading, preservation of the sphincters and restoration of digestive continuity should be achieved whenever technically possible.

Endorectal ultrasonographic staging of rectal carcinoma

Endorectal ultrasonography is a valuable imaging method for examination of the rectum and perirectal tissues. We assessed 50 patients with known rectal carcinoma prospectively by using a 7.0-MHz endorectal transducer to determine the depth of invasion of the rectal wall by tumor and the presence of lymphadenopathy. Tumors were staged by using the Astler-Coller modification of the Dukes staging system, and the results were compared with histologic staging of the surgical specimen. Ultrasonography had an accuracy of 80%, a sensitivity of 92%, and a specificity of 76% for detection of invasion of the perirectal fat. Ultrasonography was sensitive in the detection of perirectal lymphadenopathy but was not specific in distinguishing benign from malignant nodes.