title: Long-term results of intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate the long-term therapeutic outcome of intersphincteric resection (ISR) as the treatment of ultra-low rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  During January 2004 and October 2010, ISR was performed in 60 patients with ultra-low rectal cancer and their survival, local recurrence, and functional outcome were evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 60 patients with tumors at a median distance of 42 (range 30-50) mm from the anal verge underwent ISR. Three cases developed anastomotic leakage and two cases developed anastomotic stenosis postoperatively. After a median follow-up of 49 (range 18-90) months, local and distant recurrence occurred in six and four patients, respectively. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 90.0% and 83.3%. Among them, the functional results of 53 patients suggested the mean stool frequency were 3.8 ± 1.3 (range 3-10) per 24 hr. According to Kirwan classification, good continence was shown in 73.6% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study indicated that ISR might be a candidate technique in treating patients with ultra-low rectal cancer and achieved satisfactory long-term results in functional and oncologic respects.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hao-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mou-Bin
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome