Clinicopathological and prognostic evaluations of anorectal cancer after fecal diversion for patients with Crohn's disease

Optimal approaches to flap reconstruction following abdominoperineal resection: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Abdominoperineal resection (APR) frequently results in a large volume perineal defect. Flap reconstruction is commonly undertaken to reduce the rate of perineal complications associated with primary closure. Several techniques can be employed including vertical rectus abdominis (VRAM), gluteal myocutaneous and gluteal fasciocutaneous flaps. We aimed to compare perineal complication rates between flap reconstruction techniques.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases were searched for studies reporting perineal complications following flap reconstruction post-APR. Demographic data for each study was extracted along with overall perineal complication rate, infectious complication, flap necrosis, dehiscence, and failure.

RESULTS

In total, 31 studies with 764 patients were included. Rectal cancer was the underlying pathology in 71.3 % (545/764), anal cancer in 23.6 % (180/764), and other in 5.1 % (39/764). VRAM flap reconstruction was performed in 57.2 % of cases (437/764), gluteal myocutaneous in 25.1 % (192/764), and gluteal fasciocutaneous in 17.7 % (135/764). Infection, dehiscence, haematoma, seroma, and flap failure rates were comparable among the different groups. Flap necrosis occurred in 4.6 % of the VRAM group and was significantly higher than in the other groups (P = 0.028). The rate of reoperation (9.1 %) was also significantly higher in the VRAM group (P = 0.038). Perineal hernia formation occurred in 14.9 % of the gluteal fasciocutaneous group and was significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Flap necrosis and reoperation rates are higher after VRAM flap reconstruction. Perineal hernia rates are higher in gluteal fasciocutaneous flap reconstruction. A randomised controlled trial is needed to further investigate the outcomes of flap reconstruction.

Establishment of a surveillance program for anal cancer in Crohn's disease

This letter discusses the incidence of anal cancer among Crohn's disease (CD)-related malignancies. Patients with CD have been demonstrated to be at a higher risk of developing small bowel and colorectal cancers than healthy individuals. Although CD-associated anal cancer is relatively rare, patients with CD accompanied by anal or perianal lesions are at increased risk of anal cancer. Additionally, compared to ulcerative colitis, which is also an inflammatory disease, CD-related anal cancer is often detected at an advanced stage owing to the complexity of CD and is associated with a poor prognosis with frequent local recurrences. Therefore, the detection of early-stage cancer is crucial for improving the prognosis. However, the surveillance methods recommended for CD-related malignancies in the United States and Europe are similar to those for ulcerative colitis. They are not appropriate for detecting CD-related malignancies in the recto-anal region. Therefore, there is an urgent need for surveillance programs aimed at the early detection of malignant anorectal lesions in patients with CD.