Results after rectal cancer resection with in-continuity partial vaginectomy and total mesorectal excision.
BACKGROUND
Although sharp mesorectal excision reduces circumferential margin involvement and local recurrence, a concomitant partial vaginectomy may be required in women with locally advanced rectal cancer.


METHODS
Sixty-four patients requiring a partial vaginectomy during resection of primary rectal cancer were identified. Survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method, and distributions were compared by the log-rank test.


RESULTS
Locally advanced disease was reflected by presentation with malignant rectovaginal fistulae (n = 6) or cancers described as bulky or adherent/tethered to the rectovaginal septum (n = 32). Thirty-five patients received adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 22 months, 27 (42%) patients developed recurrent disease, with most of these occurring at distant sites. The 5-year overall survival was 46%, with a median survival of 44 months. The 2-year local recurrence-free survival was 84%. The crude local failure rate was 16% (10 of 64), and local recurrence was more common in patients with a positive as opposed to a negative microscopic margin (2 [50%] of 4 vs. 8 [13%] of 60, respectively). Positive nodal status had a significant effect on overall survival (P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Partial vaginectomy is indicated for locally advanced rectal cancers involving the vagina. The results are most favorable in patients with negative surgical margins and node-negative disease.
Ruo
L
L
Department of Surgery, Colorectal Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Paty
P B
PB
Minsky
B D
BD
Wong
W D
WD
Cohen
A M
AM
Guillem
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*