Transanal endoscopic microsurgery vs. laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for T2N0 rectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to compare transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and laparoscopic resection (LR) in terms of short-term and oncologic outcomes in patients with a preoperatively diagnosed T2N0 extraperitoneal rectal cancer.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective database. All patients with a preoperatively staged T2N0 extraperitoneal rectal adenocarcinoma were considered for LR. Patients refusing LR or medically unfit for LR were considered for TEM, which was associated with neoadjuvant RT in the last cases. Only patients with a minimum follow-up of 36 months were included.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight patients were included. TEM was indicated or preferred in 43 patients; of these, 11 underwent neoadjuvant RT. Morbidity was significantly lower after TEM (p < 0.001). The median follow-up was 70 (36-140) months. A higher local recurrence rate was noted after TEM (26 %), compared to neoadjuvant RT + TEM (0 %) and LR (9 %) (p = 0.070). Overall, 5-year survival rate was 76 % after TEM, 77.8 % after RT + TEM, and 96 % after LR, respectively (p = 0.134).


CONCLUSIONS
While TEM alone may only be considered a palliative treatment, it might allow similar oncologic results to abdominal resection in responders to neoadjuvant RT. Large prospective randomized trials are awaited to confirm these findings.
Digestive, Colorectal, Oncologic and Minimal Invasive Surgery, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
Marco Ettore
ME
Allaix
Alberto
A
Arezzo
Giuseppe
G
Giraudo
Mario
M
Morino
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies