title: Usefulness of local excision for early lower rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term results of transanal excision compared with major surgery for lower rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 14 patients with early rectal cancer within 8cm from the anal verge treated by local excision in the period from January 1991 to December 2000, and 16 patients treated by major surgery in the period from January 1996 to December 2000. We evaluated the prognosis or anorectal or urinary function of these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of the patients had additional treatments which included additional resection or adju vant chemotherapy. None of these patients had macroscopic tumor remnants (R2). With the exception of one patient who died of heart disease, all of the patients survived without metastasis. Anorectal and urinary function maintained a good status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Local excision for early rectal cancer (Tis N0 M0) brought an excellent outcome, and maintained good anorectal and urinary function. We recommend local excision for the early rectal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan. mshimada@clin.md.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Tateo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Kouzou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higashijima
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyatani
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome