Completion Total Mesorectal Excision: A Case-Matched Comparison With Primary Resection.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the perioperative and oncological results of completion total mesorectal excision (cTME) primary total mesorectal excision (pTME).

BACKGROUND

Early-stage rectal cancer can be treated by local excision alone, which is associated with less surgical morbidity and improved functional outcomes compared with radical surgery. When high-risk histological features are present, cTME is indicated, with possible worse clinical and oncological outcomes compared to pTME.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included all patients that underwent TME surgery for rectal cancer performed in 11 centers in the Netherlands between 2015 and 2017. After case-matching, we compared cTME with pTME. The primary outcome was major postoperative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included the rate of restorative procedures and 3-year oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

In total 1069 patients were included, of which 35 underwent cTME. After matching (1:2 ratio), 29 cTME and 58 pTME were analyzed. No differences were found for major morbidity (27.6% 19.0%; = 0.28) and abdominoperineal excision rate (31.0% 32.8%; = 0.85) between cTME and pTME, respectively. Local recurrence (3.4% 8.6%; = 0.43), systemic recurrence (3.4% 12.1%; = 0.25), overall survival (93.1% 94.8%; = 0.71), and disease-free survival (89.7% 81.0%; = 0.43) were comparable between cTME and pTME.

CONCLUSIONS

cTME is not associated with higher major morbidity, whereas the abdominoperineal excision rate and 3-year oncological outcomes are similar compared to pTME. Local excision as a diagnostic tool followed by completion surgery for early rectal cancer does not compromise outcomes and should still be considered as the treatment of early-stage rectal cancer.