Electrocoagulation: an alternative palliative treatment for rectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
We present our experience with palliative transanal electrocoagulation therapy (TEC) for rectal cancer.


METHODS
Eight patients with biopsy-proven localised low rectal adenocarcinoma were treated with palliative TEC. Inclusion criteria were: high risk patients with anal adenocarcinoma less than 3 cm in diameter, localised less than 7 cm from the anal verge, limited to the rectal wall. Under local anaesthesia all patients underwent TEC using the traditional cautery.


RESULTS
No mortality and morbidity was found. Four patients required a second procedure and one patient had a third session . Two patients died within 2 years from distal metastasis. The remaining six patients are alive and free of local recurrence (follow-up 9 months to 4 years).


CONCLUSIONS
In poor surgical candidates, palliative TEC of rectal adenocarcinoma may have a role as an alternative to radical surgical treatment.
Delikoukos
S
S
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Larisa, Greece. morfula@otenet.gr
Zacharoulis
D
D
Hatzitheofilou
C
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011351:Proctoscopy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome