title: Oncologic outcome of intersphincteric resection for very low rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2000 we launched a prospective program of intersphincteric resection (ISR) for very low rectal cancer. In this study we compared the oncologic outcome of patients who underwent ISR with the outcome of patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 202 patients with very low rectal cancer who underwent curative ISR (n = 132) or curative APR (n = 70) between 1995 and 2006 were analyzed. Patients were divided into ISR and APR groups. Survival and local recurrence were investigated in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up was 40 months in the ISR group and 57 months in the APR group. The 5-year local relapse-free survival rate was 83% in the ISR group and 80% in the APR group (p = 0.364), and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 69% in the ISR group and 63% in the APR group (p = 0.714).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For very low rectal cancers, ISR appears to be oncologically acceptable and can reduce the number of APRs.
authors.affiliation: Colorectal and Pelvic Surgery Division, Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan. norsaito@east.ncc.go.jp
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugito
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome