title: Treatment of tailgut cysts by extended distal rectal segmental resection with rectoanal anastomosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for tailgut cysts, because of their malignant potential and tendency to regrow if incompletely resected. We report our experience of treating patients with tailgut cysts, and discuss diagnostics, surgical approaches, and follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed extended distal rectal segmental resection of the tailgut cyst, with rectoanal anastomosis. We report the clinical, radiological, pathological, and surgical findings, describe the procedures performed, and summarize follow-up data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients underwent en-bloc resection of a tailgut cyst, the adjacent part of the levator muscle, and the distal rectal segment, followed by an end-to-end rectoanal anastomosis. There was no evidence of anastomotic leakage postoperatively. At the time of writing, our patients were relapse-free with no, or non-limiting, symptoms of anal incontinence, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This surgical approach appears to have a low complication rate and good recovery outcomes. Moreover, as the sphincter is preserved, so is the postoperative anorectal function. This approach could result in a low recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Plodeck
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pathology, University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Marieta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Detlev
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Saeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. steffen.pistorius@uniklinikum-dresden.de.|University Cancer Center Dresden (UCC), University of Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. steffen.pistorius@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pistorius
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anterior approach; Extended distal rectal segmental resection; Tail gut cyst