title: Changes in treatment of rectal cancer: increased use of low anterior resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The most common surgical procedures for patients with rectal cancer are low anterior resection (LAR) or abdominoperineal excision (APE). The aim of the present study is to evaluate and report the changes in the incidence of LAR and APE in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer over the last 15 years in a single surgical department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patient sample consisted of 251 consecutive patients (mean age 65.17; age range 22-87) that underwent surgical treatment for rectal cancer in a single center from 1996 to 2010. This time frame was divided into three 5-year periods (1996-2000, 2001-2005 and 2006-2010). Patients were classified into one of the aforementioned groups, depending on the date of their treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first period (1996-2000), 71 patients were treated for rectal cancer. Among them, 32.4% (n = 23) underwent an abdominoperineal excision (APE) while 56.3% (n = 40) were treated with LAR. In the second period (2001-2005), included 102 patients, from which 29.4% (n = 30) received an APE and 60.8% (n = 62) underwent a LAR for their disease. In the final period (2006-2010), from the 78 patients, only 12.8% (n = 10) of them underwent APE, while 74.3% (n = 58) were treated with LAR. There was a statistically significant (chi-square test, P = 0.005) difference between the 3 periods of time concerning the performance of LAR and APE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of the present study, the rates of APE seem to decrease during the last 15 years, while LAR is more widely used in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer.
authors: 1st Propedeutic Surgical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA General Hospital, St Kyriakidi 1, TK 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece. almekras@yahoo.gr
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mekras
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Michalopoulos
authors: V N
authors: VN
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Mekras
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Kalles
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Tzeveleki
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dabakis
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Netta
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Basdanis
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult