PURPOSE
The purpose of this national study was to examine the long-term results of transanal excision compared with major surgery of T1 rectal cancer.
METHODS
This prospective study from the Norwegian Rectal Cancer Project included all 291 patients with a T1M0 tumor within 15 cm from the anal verge treated by anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, Hartmann’s procedure, or transanal excision in the period from November 1993 to December 1999.
RESULTS
Two hundred fifty-six patients were treated by major surgery and 35 patients by transanal excision. None of the patients had neoadjuvant therapy. Macroscopic tumor remnants (R2) occurred in 17 percent (6/35) of the transanal excisions, while major surgery obtained 100 percent R0 resections. Eleven percent of the patients treated with major surgery had glandular involvement. There were no significant differences according to tumor localization, size, or differentiation between Stage I and Stage III tumors. Patients treated with transanal excision were older than patients having major surgery (mean age, 77 vs. 68 years, P < 0.001). After curative resection (R0, R1, Rx) the five-year rate of local recurrence was 12 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0–24) in the transanal excision group compared with 6 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 2–10) after major surgery (P = 0.010). The overall five-year survival was 70 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 52–88) in the transanal excision group compared with 80 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 74–85) in the major surgery group (P = 0.04) and the five-year disease-free survival was 64 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 46–82) in the transanal excision group compared with 77 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 71–83) in the major surgery group (P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
The main problem of transanal excision for early rectal cancer in the present study was the inability to remove all the malignancy. Patients treated with transanal excision had significantly higher rates of local recurrence compared with patients who underwent major surgery. Patients who had transanal excision had inferior survival, but they were older than those who had major surgery.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
A Wibe B Moller J Norstein et al. (2002) ArticleTitleA national strategic change in treatment policy for rectal cancer–implementation of total mesorectal excision as routine treatment in Norway. A national audit Dis Colon Rectum 45 857–66 Occurrence Handle12130870
A Wibe MT Eriksen A Syse HE Myrvold O Søreide InstitutionalAuthorNameon behalf of The Norwegian Rectal Cancer Group (2003) ArticleTitleTotal mesorectal excision for rectal cancer—what can be achieved by a national audit? Colorectal Dis 5 471–7 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3szovVentg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12925083
WE Enker N Merchant AM Cohen et al. (1999) ArticleTitleSafety and efficacy of low anterior resection for rectal cancer, 681 consecutive cases from a specialty service Ann Surg 230 544–54 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvltVGmuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10522724
WE Enker K Havenga T Polyak H Thaler M Cranor (1997) ArticleTitleAbdominoperineal resection via total mesorectal excision and autonomic nerve preservation for low rectal cancer World J Surg 21 715–20 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiH383msFY%3D Occurrence Handle9276702
WE Longo KS Virgo FE Johnson et al. (1998) ArticleTitleOutcome after proctectomy for rectal cancer in department of veterans affairs hospitals: a report from the national surgical quality improvement program Ann Surg 228 64–70 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czjsVWnsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9671068
A Nesbakken K Nygaard OC Lunde (2002) ArticleTitleMesorectal excision for rectal cancer: functional outcome after low anterior resection and colorectal anastomosis without a reservoir Colorectal Dis 4 172–6 Occurrence Handle12780611
N Williams F Seow-Cohen (1998) ArticleTitlePhysiological and functional outcome following ultra-low anterior resection with colon-pouch anastomosis Br J Surg 85 1029–35 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czot1SqsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9717992
A Nesbakken K Nygaard T Bull-Njaa E Carlsen LM Eri (2000) ArticleTitleBladder and sexual dysfunction after mesorectal excision for rectal cancer Br J Surg 87 206–10 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7jslynug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10671929
S Nivatvongs (2000) ArticleTitleSurgical management of early colorectal cancer World J Surg 24 1052–5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvos12mtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11036281
RT Wagman BD Minsky (2001) ArticleTitleConservative management of rectal cancer with local excision and adjuvant therapy Oncology (Huntingt) 15 513–28 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrjslCqtg%3D%3D
J Garcia-Aguilar A Mellgren P Sirivongs D Buie RD Madoff DA Rothenberger (2000) ArticleTitleLocal excision of rectal cancer without adjuvant therapy. A word of caution Ann Surg 231 345–51 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7nslWjuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10714627
A Mellgren P Sirivongs DA Rothenberger RD Madoff J Garcia-Aguilar (2000) ArticleTitleIs local excision adequate therapy for early rectal cancer? Dis Colon Rectum 43 1064–71 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvitVSgsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10950004
GD Steele JE Herndon R Bleday et al. (1999) ArticleTitleSphincter-sparing treatment for distal rectal adenocarcinoma Ann Surg Oncol 6 433–41 Occurrence Handle10458680
PB Paty GM Nash P Baron et al. (2002) ArticleTitleLong-term results of local excision for rectal cancer Ann Surg 236 522–30 Occurrence Handle12368681
A Chakravarti C Compton P Shellito et al. (1999) ArticleTitleLong-term follow-up of patients with rectal cancer managed by local excision with and without adjuvant irradiation Ann Surg 230 49–54 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzisFKhsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10400036
S Sengupta JJ Tjandra (2001) ArticleTitleLocal excision of rectal cancer: what is the evidence? Dis Colon Rectum 44 1345–61 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrjsFWmsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11584215
B Mentges G Buess G Effinger K Manncke HD Becker (1997) ArticleTitleIndications and results of local treatment of rectal cancer Br J Surg 84 348–51 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB3s3ht1A%3D Occurrence Handle9117305
E Lezoche M Guerrieri AM Paganini F Feliciotti (2002) ArticleTitleLong-term results of patients with pT2 rectal cancer treated with radiotherapy and transanal endoscopic microsurgical excision World J Surg 26 1170–4 Occurrence Handle12209248
ME Kreis EC Jehle V Haug et al. (1996) ArticleTitleFunctional results after transanal endoscopic microsurgery Dis Colon Rectum 39 1116–21 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymH38fkt1c%3D Occurrence Handle8831526
D Blumberg PB Paty AI Picon et al. (1998) ArticleTitleStage I rectal cancer: identification of high-risk patients J Am Coll Surg 186 574–80 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3ktlSmtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9583699
R Nascimbeni LJ Burgart S Nivatvongs DR Larson (2002) ArticleTitleRisk of lymph node metastasis in T1 carcinoma of the colon and rectum Dis Colon Rectum 45 200–6 Occurrence Handle11852333
D Blumberg PB Paty JG Guillem et al. (1999) ArticleTitleAll patients with small intramural rectal cancers are at risk for lymph node metastasis Dis Colon Rectum 42 881–5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1Mzjslansw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10411434
BD Minsky T Rich A Recht W Harvey C Mies (1989) ArticleTitleSelection criteria for local excision with or without adjuvant radiation for rectal cancer Cancer 63 1421–9 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaC2M7is1A%3D Occurrence Handle2920368
JT Brodsky GK Richard AM Cohen BD Minsky (1992) ArticleTitleVariables correlated with the risk of lymph node metastasis in early rectal cancer Cancer 69 322–6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2D1Mnps1U%3D Occurrence Handle1728363
BC Morson (1985) ArticleTitleHistological criteria for local excision Br J Surg 72 IssueID(Suppl) S53–4 Occurrence Handle4041763
PL Baron WE Enker MF Zakowski C Urmacher (1995) ArticleTitleImmediate vs. salvage resection after local treatment for early rectal cancer Dis Colon Rectum 38 177–81 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC2Mvgs10%3D Occurrence Handle7851173
CM Friel JW Cromwell C Marra RD Madoff DA Rothenberger J Garcia-Aguilar (2002) ArticleTitleSalvage radical surgery after failed local excision for early rectal cancer Dis Colon Rectum 45 875–9 Occurrence Handle12130873
UICC. TNM classification of malignant tumours. 5th ed. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1997
InstitutionalAuthorNameNorwegian Gastrointestinal Cancer Group (1999) ArticleTitleColorectal and anal cancer-a guideline for doctors Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 119 IssueID(Suppl) 59–60
CB Williams BP Saunders IC Talbot (2000) ArticleTitleEndoscopic management of polypoid early colon cancer World J Surg 24 1047–51 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvos12mtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11036280
A Wibe A Syse E Andersen et al. (2004) ArticleTitleOncological outcomes after total mesorectal excision for cure for cancer of the lower rectum: anterior vs. abdominoperineal resection Dis Colon Rectum 47 48–58 Occurrence Handle14719151
H Kwok IP Bissett GL Hill (2000) ArticleTitlePreoperative staging of early rectal cancer Int J Colorectal Dis 15 9–20 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3islWmsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10766086
M Sailer R Leppert M Kraemer KH Fuchs A Thiede (1997) ArticleTitleThe value of endorectal ultrasound in the assessment of adenomas, T1- and T2 carcinomas Int J Colorectal Dis 12 214–9 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiH3MfkslI%3D Occurrence Handle9272450
J Garcia-Aguilar J Pollack SH Lee et al. (2002) ArticleTitleAccuracy of endorectal ultrasonography in preoperative staging of rectal tumors Dis Colon Rectum 45 10–5 Occurrence Handle11786756
A Nesbakken T Lovig OC Lunde K Nygaard (2003) ArticleTitleStaging of rectal carcinoma with transrectal ultrasonography Scand J Surg 92 125–9 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3szht1Gluw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12841552
G Buess B Mentges K Manncke M Starlinger H-D Becker (1992) ArticleTitleTechnique and results of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in early rectal cancer Am J Surg 163 63–70 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2C38rmt1E%3D Occurrence Handle1733375
P Hatfield D Sebag-Montefiore (2003) ArticleTitleThe use of radiotherapy in rectal cancer Scand J Surg 92 65–73 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7os1Cisg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12705553
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank all the Norwegian surgeons and the 50 hospitals that performed rectal cancer surgery and reported the data during these years, and the pathologists who examined the specimens.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Corresponding author
Additional information
From the Norwegian Gastrointestinal Cancer Group and the Norwegian Rectal Cancer Group.
This work was supported by a grant from the Norwegian Cancer Society.
About this article
Cite this article
Endreseth, B., Myrvold, H., Romundstad, P. et al. Transanal Excision vs. Major Surgery for T1 Rectal Cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 48, 1380–1388 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-005-0044-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-005-0044-6