Long-term oncologic results of patients with distal rectal cancer treated by local excision with or without adjuvant treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to review long-term oncologic results of local excision (LE) and to investigate the validity and feasibility of LE as a treatment option for distal rectal cancer.


METHODS
Seventy-six patients who underwent LE for distal rectal adenocarcinoma with curative intent from 1991 to 2000 at Severance Hospital Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea were enrolled in this study.


RESULTS
Preoperative transrectal ultrasonography revealed 3 cases of uT0, 55 cases of uT1 and 18 cases of uT2. Postoperative pathologic examination revealed 10 cases of pT0 (where no residual cancer cells remained), 11 cases of pTis, 37 cases of pT1, 16 cases of pT2, and 2 cases of pT3. Eleven out of 37 patients with pT1 tumors received adjuvant radiation therapy. Among 16 patients with pT2 tumor, 7 undertook salvage operation and 8 received adjuvant therapy. The median follow-up period was 84.9 months. Local recurrence was observed in six patients. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate (LFS) was 89.4% in the pT1 group and 75.0% in the pT2 group (p = 0.012). Among the patients with pT1 cancer, those who received adjuvant radiation therapy demonstrated a 5-year LFS of 100%, compared to those who did not, 76.0% (p = 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results imply a potential role of LE and adjuvant radiation as an option for the treatment of distal rectal cancer, and that even for pT1 carcinoma, LE alone might not be a valid modality.
Min
Byung Soh
BS
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine Yonsei University, Seodamun-Gu Shincheon Dong 134, Seoul, South Korea. namkyuk@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Kim
Nam Kyu
NK
Ko
Yong Taek
YT
Lee
Kang Young
KY
Baek
Seung Hyuk
SH
Cho
Chang Hwan
CH
Sohn
Seung Kook
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome