Local Excision of Rectal Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Curative local excision of the rectal cancer had been advocated by many surgeons over the standard abdominoperineal resection (APR) for lower rectal cancer due to its low complication rate and improved quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the result of the local excision for rectal cancer. METHOD: We prospectively analyzed 31 rectal cancer patients (including 2 patients of carcinoid tumor) who were suitable indication for local excision between Oct. 1993 and Dec. 1998 at Mokdong Hospital. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 39 to 81 years (>60 years 77.8%) while sex ratio was 15 (MF). Of 31 patients, 29 patients were located below 4 cm from anal verge. Other two were in between 7 cm and 10 cm from the anal verge. The tumor size ranged from 0.7 cm to 5 cm, most commonly within 3 cm. Invasion depth by tumor were as follows 12 patients in mucosa; 7 patients in submucosa; 4 patients in inner muscle layer; 6 patients in outer muscle layer; and 2 patients in whole layer. Ten patients had well-differentiated tumors and 17 patients had moderately differentiated tumors, while one patient had mucinous histologic type. Seventy percent of patients with muscular layer invasion received adjuvant radiation therapy. Six patients received oral chemotherapeutic agent and 4 received immunopotentiator. During the follow-up period (mean 18.4 months, range 1~54 months), no local recurrence was found in the patients who were operated under curative intent. CONCLUSION: We concluded that this method can be favorabe choice for the treatment of early rectal cancer without lymph node involvement if strict indication of the local excision for rectal cancer could be applied.