[Rectal cancer--review of methods and treatment results]

Rectal cancer poses a significant worldwide problem. Until the late 19 century surgeons were convinced that surgical attempts of treating rectal cancers were doomed to failure. Currently, surgery is associated with a poor prognosis, a high likelihood of permanent colostomy and a high rate of local recurrence in patients with regional disease. Functional changes such as bladder dysfunction and impotence remain distressingly common consequences of conventional surgery. An important understanding of rectal cancer pathology allied to modern surgical techniques such as intestinal stapling guns has led to an increased number of sphincter saving operations. The technique of sharp dissection along definable planes known as total mesorectal excision (TME) produces the complete resection of an intact package of the rectum and surrounding mesorectum, enveloped within the visceral pelvic fascia with uninvolved circumferential margins. As a result of TME, 5-year survival figures have risen from 45-50% to 78%, local recurrence rates have declined from 30% to 5-8%, sphincter preservation has risen by at least 20%, and the rates of bladder dysfunction and impotence have declined from 50-70% to 15%. In some selected cases transanal techniques with or without radiotherapy have improved the success of local excision. The value of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in terms of cancer outcome can only be assessed by large clinical trials with sufficient follow-up.