Local excision of rectal carcinoma not-exceeding the muscularis layer.

AIM

The aim of the study was to compare the results of treatment by local excision of two different clinical stages of the rectal cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-eight patients with early rectal carcinoma were operated on during the last 26 years using different methods of local excision. The carcinomas were initially assessed as not-exceeding the muscularis layer of the rectal wall. The tumours, localized up to 12 cm from the anal margin, were removed by means of "parachute" excision (47 patients). In 6 patients, carcinoma localized in the central part of rectum, was excised by means of the Localio method. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery was applied in 5 cases of carcinoma localized on the depth of 5-20 cm from the anal margin.

RESULTS

After local excision the patients were divided into two groups: I, tumours of low degree of malignancy, not exceeding submucosal layer (26 patients); II, tumours of low or median degree of malignancy with infiltration of muscularis layer (32 patients). There was a significant difference in cancer relapses between groups I and II. One patient in group I and 9 in group II developed local recurrences (P < 0.05) and 5 patients in group II had neoplastic dissemination (15.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Best results were obtained in patients with carcinoma not exceeding submucosal membrane. In cases of rectal muscular layer infiltrations, the risk of carcinoma relapses was markedly higher. The use of transanal endoscopic microsurgery has permitted removal of tumours from the upper rectum.