Radical surgery for anal canal neuroendocrine carcinoma with pagetoid spread: a case report

Anal canal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) with pagetoid spread (PS) is a rare disease, and its treatment strategy remains unclear. The prognosis of anal canal NEC with PS is poor. Resection margin status is very important for anorectal carcinoma because it affects survival. When accompanied by PS, the defect of the resulting perineal wound following radical surgical intervention may be necessarily enlarged to ensure the appropriate margin status. This case report discusses the treatment of a patient with advanced anal canal NEC with PS, inguinal lymph node metastasis and sphincter infiltration in which total pelvic exenteration with plastic surgery was successfully performed. The plastic surgery incorporated a gracilis muscle flap that was useful for the reconstruction of the enlarged perineal defect.