Combined radical retropubic prostatectomy and rectal resection.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Urology

Background:

• Prostate cancer and rectal tumors can co-occur, necessitating complex surgical management.
• Simultaneous surgical resection presents a unique challenge in managing these concurrent malignancies.

Observation:

• Three male patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and concurrent rectal tumors underwent combined radical retropubic prostatectomy and rectal resection.
• Surgical approaches included abdominoperineal resection (APR) or low anterior resection (LAR), with specific modifications for pelvic reconstruction.

Findings:

• All patients achieved excellent urinary continence post-operatively.
• One patient required reoperation for adhesiolysis and stoma revision; another experienced mild anastomotic and bladder neck strictures, both successfully treated conservatively.
• No other major complications were reported, indicating a favorable safety profile.

Implications:

• Radical retropubic prostatectomy can be safely combined with partial or complete rectal resection in a single operative session.
• Minor surgical modifications to standard radical retropubic prostatectomy facilitate successful outcomes in this combined procedure.
• This approach offers a viable option for select patients with synchronous prostate and rectal cancers.