Pelvic resection of recurrent rectal cancer: technical considerations and outcomes.

PURPOSE: Pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer is an ominous event for the patient and a formidable challenge to the managing surgeon. We reviewed the results of abdominosacral resection to manage these patients and correlated outcome (survival and recurrence) with known prognostic factors. METHODS: An abdominosacral resection was performed on 61 patients with pelvic recurrence (53 with curative intent and 6 for palliation; 2 had extended pelvic resection). Of the 53 patients (32 males; average age, 59 years) previous resection included abdominoperineal resection in 27 patients, abdominoperineal resection plus hepatic lobectomy in 2 patients, low anterior resection in 19 patients, plus trisegmentectomy in 1 patient, and advanced primary cancers in 4 patients. Initial primary stage was Dukes B (64 percent) and Dukes C (36 percent). All had been irradiated (3,000-6,500 in 50 patients, 8,300 and 11,000 in 2 patients, and unknown dose in 3 patients). Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen was elevated (>5 ng/ml) in 54 percent. Extent of resection: high sacral resection S-1-S2 was done in 32 patients, midsacrum in 14 patients, and low S-4-S-5 in 6 patients. Twenty-eight patients (60 percent) required partial or complete bladder resection with or without adjacent viscera, and all had internal iliac and obturator node dissection. RESULTS: There were four postoperative (within 60 days) deaths, 8 percent in curative groups (5.4 percent overall). Major complications included prolonged intubation (20 percent), sepsis (34 percent), posterior wound infection or flap separation (38 percent). The survival rate in the curative group (49 postoperative survivors) was 31 percent at five years, with 13 patients surviving beyond five years. Seven of these patients survived from 5 to 21 years, whereas six patients recurred again and died within 5.5 to 7.5 years after abdominosacral resection. Disease-free survival rate at five years was 23 percent. Recent reconstruction with large composite myocutaneous gluteal flaps in 5 patients permitted complete sacral wound coverage, resulting in earlier ambulation and reduced hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominosacral resection permits removal of pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer that is fixed to the sacrum and is associated with long-term survival in 31 percent of patients. Recent technical advances have improved the short-term outcome and have made the procedure more feasible for surgical teams familiar with these techniques.

Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum and anal canal.

Leiomyosarcoma of the rectum and anal canal is rare and the optimal treatment is not clear. Eight patients with isolated anorectal leiomyosarcoma treated surgically were reviewed. The age ranged from 44 to 76 years (median 63 years) and the follow up ranged from 6 months to 4.5 years (median 2 years). All patients were symptomatic at presentation. All tumours involved the muscularis propria of the low and/or mid-rectum with three tumours also involving the anal sphincters. The tumour size ranged from 1.2 to 10 cm (median 4 cm). Mucosal involvement occurred in only three patients and there was no lymph node involvement. All showed microscopic infiltration at the advancing border, despite macroscopic circumscription. Only one patient was thought to have a tumour sufficiently small (3 cm) and localized on clinical and intrarectal ultrasound examinations (UST2N0) to be suitable for wide local excision. That patient remained tumour-free after 2 years. The remaining patients (88%) were treated by abdomino-perineal resection. The disease free interval in this latter group ranged from 3 months to 4.5 years. All recurrences were detected within 15 months of surgery and the mean interval from detection of recurrence to death was 9 months. Using a histological grading system that included tumour differentiation, mitotic count and amount of necrosis, high grade sarcomas were associated with a worse prognosis. Other factors associated with a poor outcome included large tumour size (> 6-7 cm) and prior incomplete local excision.

Anorectal malignant melanoma has a poor prognosis.

Clinicopathologic features and surgical treatment of 15 patients with primary anorectal malignant melanoma were studied retrospectively. There was a female preponderance (2:1). The median age was 66 years. Common initial symptoms were rectal bleeding (87%) and/or anal pain (33%); 25% of the melanomas were amelanotic. The maximum tumor size ranged between 0.8 and 8.4 cm (median 3.0 cm). Of the tumors evaluated histologically (n = 12), tumor thickness ranged from 0.9 to 11.3 mm (median 6.1 mm). All melanomas invaded at least into the subepithelial tissue (n = 8) and/or the submucosa of the distal rectum (n = 4), with extension into the internal anal sphincter (n = 5) and lamina propria (n = 3). Endoluminal ultrasound accurately demonstrated depth of invasion in 3 of 3 patients. Three (20%) patients with distant metastases at initial presentation had a mean survival of 8 mo; one of these primary melanomas measured 0.8 cm. Of 12 patients undergoing "curative" treatments--4 by abdominoperineal resection (APR) and 8 by local excision (LE), the incidence of loco-regional recurrence was similar (2/4 and 5/8). All these 7 patients with loco-regional recurrence developed distant metastases within 3 months. The mean survival was similar between APR and LE in the total group (25 mo vs 20 mo), in the decreased (27 mo vs 24 mo) and in those treated with a curative intent (29 mo vs 22 mo). There was no long-term survivor but four patients remained tumor-free up to 19 mo after APR (n = 1) or LE (n = 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diffuse intra-abdominal fibromatosis in association with bilateral ovarian fibromatosis and oedema.

A case of bilateral ovarian enlargement secondary to massive ovarian oedema with underlying intra-abdominal and pelvic fibromatosis is presented. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy led to rapid progression of the intra-abdominal and pelvic fibromatosis, which was previously unsuspected. The case highlights the importance of recognizing massive oedema of the ovary as a distinct entity as it is a benign condition affecting young females and can be confused with ovarian neoplasm. In this case, the major morbidity was from the underlying diffuse intra-abdominal fibromatosis. Conservative management with prolonged bowel rest, total parenteral nutrition, and intravenous steroid and Tamoxifen successfully led to complete resolution of bowel obstruction from diffuse fibromatosis.