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Long-term Results of Rectal Cancer Surgery with a Systematical Operative Approach

  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Variabilities of both oncologic and functional outcomes are major problems after rectal cancer treatment. Standardized techniques might produce more consistent surgical quality. This study reports outcomes during a 20-year period resulting from a systematically applied surgical approach.

Methods

Between 1990 and 2010, 368 rectal cancer patients, treated with total mesorectal excision conducted in a standardized, stepwise approach, were prospectively entered into a database. Influence of time period, surgeon, tumor and anastomotic height, and resection type was evaluated with multivariable regression analyses adjusting for age, disease stage, diversion, and (neo)adjuvant treatment. Function outcome questionnaires were sent to 50 patients at least 5 years after surgery.

Results

Five-year overall survival was 76.4 %. Local and distant recurrence rates were 5.2 % and 22.1 %. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 5.4 % of patients treated with low anterior resection (n = 259). Time period, surgeon, tumor and anastomotic height, diversion, and abdominoperineal resection were not independent risk factors for any of these outcome measures. Both preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy were independently associated with increased risk of metastases (P = 0.035, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.04; and P = 0.029, HR = 3.59). Function questionnaires were completed by 38 of 50 patients (76 %). One of 13 nonirradiated patients reported mild fecal incontinence compared with 20 of 25 irradiated patients reporting mostly moderate-severe incontinence (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Systematically applied surgical dissection results consistently in excellent oncologic outcomes with enhanced function outcomes. The findings suggest that in the presence of highly disciplined surgery, radiotherapy might make a smaller contribution to oncologic outcome, while leading to serious adverse effects.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Beth Israel Medical Center and was supported by the Dorothy and Lawrence Kryger Surgical Oncology Research Fund.

Conflicts of interest

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Author notes

  1. Marilyne M. Lange MD, PhD

    Present address: Department of Surgery, Zaans Medisch Centrum, Zaandam, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and The Cancer Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Marilyne M. Lange MD, PhD

  2. Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery and the Cancer Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Joseph E. Martz MD, Beverly Ramdeen, Vicki Brooks, Kwadwo Boachie-Adjei MPH & Warren E. Enker MD

  3. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Cornelis J. H. van de Velde MD, PhD

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  1. Marilyne M. Lange MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Marilyne M. Lange MD, PhD.

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Lange, M.M., Martz, J.E., Ramdeen, B. et al. Long-term Results of Rectal Cancer Surgery with a Systematical Operative Approach. Ann Surg Oncol 20, 1806–1815 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-012-2832-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-012-2832-2

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