In a nutshell
This study aimed to investigate two techniques used to treat low rectal cancer, abdominoperineal resection (APR) and intersphincteric resection (ISR). This study found there was no significant difference in long-term outcomes for APR and ISR.
Some background
APR is a common surgery to remove low rectal cancers. A low rectal cancer is one that is close to the anus. A permanent stoma bag (outflow bag for feces) is created during this surgery. ISR is another option. During ISR, the tumor is removed by entering the rectum through the anus. It does not involve a stoma bag.
It is unclear which surgical technique leads to better long-term survival rates.
Methods & findings
This study included 285 patients with low rectal cancer. They did not have chemotherapy or radiation before surgery. 173 patients had APR surgery. 112 had ISR. They were followed up for an average of 60 months.
Five-year recurrence-free (the percentage of patients who did not have a cancer recurrence after 5 years) survival rates were 69.9% for ISR group and 67.9% for the APR group. The local recurrence rates after 3 years were 7.3% in the ISR group and 3.9% in the APR group.
The bottom line
This study found that there was no significant difference regarding the risk of recurrence in APR and ISR for low rectal cancer.
The fine print
Patients in the APR group were more likely to have advanced cancer before the surgery. This might have influenced the results.
Published By :
Diseases of the colon and rectum
Date :
Sep 01, 2018