Carcinoma of the rectum; low abdominal transverse incision for resection with end-to-end anastomosis.

On the basis of published studies of the lymphatic spread of carcinoma of the rectum, tumors lying as low as the anterior peritoneal reflection may be treated by segmental resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Statistics of five-year survivals in these published studies indicate that for tumors in such locations, a segmental resection offers the same chance for cure as an abdominoperineal resection. The transverse low abdominal incision previously described by the author permits better exposure, facilitates the performance of anastomosis which can be made at a greater depth, and thus enables the surgeon to resect a wider margin distal to the tumor.