title: Indications and results of local treatment of rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local therapy of early rectal carcinoma has become an alternative to the classical radical operation which has a higher morbidity and mortality rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rectal carcinoma was treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in 113 patients. The indications for the procedure were pT1 low-risk tumour, advanced tumour in high-risk patients, and patients who refused more radical surgery based on oncological guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four patients had pT1, 33 pT2 and 16 pT3 tumours. No patient died as a result of TEM. The rate of complications which needed operative intervention was 7 per cent. So far, two of the patients treated by local resection of pT1 low-risk tumours have had a recurrence. In both cases, a secondary procedure was possible with curative intent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with pT1 rectal tumours represent a suitable group for local treatment because of the acceptability of the procedure and the low recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery of the Eberhard Karls University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mentges
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buess
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Effinger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manncke
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004724:Endoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors