[Laparoscopic Resection in a Case of Local Recurrence of Rectal Cancer]

A 65-year-old man had undergone high anterior resection for rectal cancer. Seven years after the surgery, a liver metastasis was identified, and the metastasis was surgically resected. A year after the liver surgery, blood testing showed high carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). A fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG) / -positron emission tomography(PET)/CT examination showed a high FDG accumulation at the rectal anastomosis site, and we diagnosed local recurrence of rectal cancer and prostate invasion. Because there were no distant metastases, he underwent laparoscopic lower anterior resection, radical prostatectomy, and ileostomy. Histopathological examination of the tumor revealed adenocarcinoma and invasion to the right seminal vesicle, suggesting local recurrence of the primary rectal adenocarcinoma. The surgical margin was free of cancer. Operations for local recurrence of rectal cancer are difficult because of tumor invasion and tissue adhesions. In spite of the extended operation, the patient showed good postoperative recovery. Laparoscopic resection for local recurrence of rectal cancer is less invasive than open abdominal operations, and it may be the treatment of choice for local recurrences of rectal cancer.