title: Surgical excision of primary canine rectal tumors by an anal approach in twenty-three dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an anal approach for excision of primary rectal tumors in dogs and to report outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n=23) with primary rectal tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of medical records (1990-2000) of dogs with primary rectal neoplasia excised surgically using an anal approach with rectal prolapse. With dogs anesthetized, the rectum was prolapsed, stabilized with stay sutures during tumor excision with 1 cm margins to the level of the muscularis, then the rectal mucosa was sutured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each dog had only 1 tumor type (adenocarcinoma [8], solitary polyp [5], carcinoma [4], plasmacytoma [2], adenoma [1], leiomyoma [1], mucinous carcinoma [1], and papilloma [1]). Mean tumor volume was 3.1 cm(3) (range 0.1-37.7 cm(3)). Postoperative complications (rectal bleeding [5], tenesmus [4]) were mild and resolved within 7 days after surgery; another dog had partial mucosal dehiscence identified at 6 days. The primary tumor was incompletely excised in 1 dog (4.3%), and local recurrence occurred 16 and 24 months after surgery in 2 dogs. Outcome beyond the immediate postoperative period was known for 18 dogs, including 2 dogs still alive. Mean postoperative disease-free interval for these 18 dogs was 36.8 months (range 5-84 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical excision of tumors of the caudal rectum can be accomplished through the anus after rectal prolapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An anal approach facilitated by rectal prolapse should be considered as a viable option for the surgical treatment of selected cases of tumors of the caudal aspect of the rectum in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Nichole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Danova
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Robles-Emanuelli
authors.forename: Dale E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bjorling
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011127:Polyps / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology