Local Excision of Early Rectal Cancer by Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM): The 23-Year Experience of a Single Centre

Abstract

Aim: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is an effective, minimally invasive alternative approach to traditional surgery. This study reviews the characteristics of a series of patients affected by early rectal cancer and discusses the results of this treatment. Methods: From 1992 to 2014, 187 patients with rectal cancer staged as pT1 by preoperative endorectal ultrasound, computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were treated by TEM at our institution. We analysed age, gender, size of lesion, distance from the anal verge , histological grading and stage. Furthermore we considered operative time, intra and post-operative complications and hospital stay. Patients were also enrolled in a tight follow-up for recurrence and survival. Results: There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to other procedures. There were minor complications (partial suture dehiscence, stool incontinence, rectal haemorrhage) in 24 patients (12.8%) and a major complication (perianal phlegmon) in one (1.5%). Two (5%) of the 40 patients with pT3 disease before neoadjuvant therapy experie nced a local recurrence and one (2.5%) died for metastasis. Conclusion: TEM is a safe technique characterized by low morbidity and mortality and excellent oncological outcomes. These advantages, coupled with its ability to be applied to a strikingly high proportion of rectal tumours, suggest that it should be considered as the gold standard approach to early rectal cancer in accurately selected patients.