Endoscopic posterior mesorectal resection as an option to combine local treatment of early stage rectal cancer with partial mesorectal lymphadenectomy

A modified sentinel lymph node technique combined with endoluminal loco-regional resection for the treatment of rectal tumours: a 14-year experience

AIM

After endoluminal loco-regional resection (ELRR) by transanal endoscopic microsurgey (TEM) the N parameter may remain undefined. Nucleotide-guided mesorectal excision (NGME) improves the lymph node harvest. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the long-term oncological results after ELRR with NGME.

METHOD

A total of 57 patients were enrolled over the period January 2001 to June 2015. All patients underwent ELRR by TEM. Prior to surgery, 99 m-technetium-marked nanocolloid was injected into the peritumoural submucosa. After removal of the specimen, the residual defect was probed to detect any residual radioactivity and 'hot' mesorectal fat was excised. All patients were included in a 5-year follow-up programme.

RESULTS

Significant radioactivity in the residual cavity was found in 28 out of 57 patients (49%). The mean number of lymph nodes harvest in irradiated and nonirradiated patients was 1.66 and 2.76, respectively. After 68.2 months' follow-up overall survival was 91.2%, disease-related mortality 3.5% and disease-free survival 89.5%. Two patients developed pulmonary metastases: one ypT3N0 patient underwent lung lobectomy after chemotherapy and one pT2N0 patient was managed with lung radiotherapy. Both patients are currently alive and disease-free at 48 months' follow-up. Two patients developed local recurrence 1 year after ELRR, both treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision. Comparing the present series with previous patients who did not undergo NGME, an increased number of harvested lymph nodes were observed, with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0085).

CONCLUSION

NGME during ELRR improves the lymph node harvest and staging accuracy. The long-term results showed satisfactory local (3.5%) and distant (7%) recurrence rates.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery combined with endoscopic posterior mesorectum resection in the treatment of patients with T1 rectal cancer - 3-year results

Introduction

Rectum-sparing transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well-established treatment for T1 rectal cancer (RC). However, it is associated with an increased rate of local recurrence in comparison with extended resection. In most cases this failure is linked to inappropriate case selection and the presence of clinically non-detectable metastases in the regional lymph nodes. Endoscopic posterior mesorectal resection (EPMR) makes it possible to remove the relevant lymphatic drainage of the lower third of the rectum in a minimally invasive way, which in turn can help in adequate tumor staging.

Aim

To evaluate the long-term clinical results and influence of combined TEM and EPMR treatment on the anorectal functions.

Material and methods

Ten consecutive patients with T1 RC were operated on using TEM and EPMR as a two-stage procedure between 2007 and 2009.

Results

After a median follow-up of 42.6 (range: 36–80) months, none of our patients complained of symptoms of incontinence apart from one female patient with gas incontinence diagnosed preoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in basal anal pressure, squeeze anal pressure, high pressure zone length or fecal continence assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index before and in follow-up months after the procedure. Postoperative morbidity consisted of one hematoma formation and one male patient complaining about sexual dysfunction until 6 months postoperatively. There was no evidence of locoregional recurrence.

Conclusions

Endoscopic posterior mesorectal resection in combination with TEM appears to be safe, feasible and with no impact on the basic anorectal functions in the 3-year follow-up.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and colorectal cancer?

Surgical techniques and technologies are rapidly evolving. In the field of colorectal surgery the transanal video-assisted approach was introduced by Buess, 30 years ago, with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). In more recent years different techniques and technologies have been proposed, including natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE), natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and single-access surgery. Furthermore, a better understanding of the prognostic and risk factors of rectal cancer has allowed TEM to expand its indications to local resection of selected tumours, and more recently there have been proposals for sentinel node biopsy in colon and rectal cancer.

Functional and clinical results of transanal endoscopic microsurgery combined with endoscopic posterior mesorectum resection for the treatment of patients with t1 rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Rectum-sparing transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a well-established treatment for T1 carcinomas of the rectum. However, it is associated with an increased rate of local recurrence compared with extended resection. In most cases, this failure is linked to the presence of clinically nondetectable metastases in the regional lymph nodes. Endoscopic posterior mesorectal resection (EPMR) makes it possible to remove the relevant lymphatic drainage of the lower third of the rectum in the minimally invasive way, which can help with adequate tumor staging. The study evaluated the influence of combined TEM and EPMR treatment on the anorectal functions of this group of patients.

METHODS

Six consecutive patients (3 women and 3 men; mean age, 71.3 years) with T1 cancer of the rectum were operated on using TEM in combination with EPMR as a two-stage procedure between 2007 and 2009.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 19 (range, 8-30) months, none of our patients complained of symptoms of incontinence during the postoperative period apart from one woman with gas incontinence, who was diagnosed preoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in BAP, SAP, HPZL, or in fecal continence control assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index before and 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure. We observed one case of intraoperative complication (perforation) and one case of minor postoperative complication (hematoma formation). There was no evidence of locoregional recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

EPMR in combination with TEM seems to be safe, feasible, and with no impact on the basic anorectal functions.

A comparison of transanal excision and endoscopic resection for early rectal cancer

AIM: To compare the outcomes of endoscopic resection with transanal excision in patients with early rectal cancer.

METHODS: Thirty-two patients with early rectal cancer were treated by transanal excision or endoscopic resection between May 1999 and December 2007. The patients were regularly re-examined by means of colonoscopy and abdominal computed tomography after resection of the early rectal cancer. Complications, length of hospital-stay, disease recurrence and follow up outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: Sixteen patients were treated by endoscopic resection and 16 patients were treated by transanal excision. No significant differences were present in the baseline characteristics. The rate of complete resection in the endoscopic resection group was 93.8%, compared to 87.5% in the transanal excision group (P = 0.544). The mean length of hospital-stay in the endoscopic resection group was 2.7 ± 1.1 d, compared to 8.9 ± 2.7 d in the transanal excision group (P = 0.001). The median follow up was 15.0 mo (range 6-99). During the follow up period, there was no case of recurrent disease in either group.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic resection was a safe and effective method for the treatment of early rectal cancers and its outcomes were comparable to those of transanal excision procedures.