[Local excision of cancer of the rectum]

Conservative treatment of 35 patients with rectal cancer by local excision is reported. Limited surgery of rectal cancer can be a part of treatment of this tumor. Selection of the patient for limited surgical procedure should be strictly in accordance with the following criteria: tumor diameter less than 3 cm, clinical staging I and II, histologically well differentiated type, tumor invasion no deeper than the submucosa and patients with severe cardiopulmonary diseases who could not withstand radical surgery. A transanal local excision is the most straightforward approach. Local excision was by per anal full-thickness disc excision and trans-sphincteric disc excision. Prognosis and further treatment were based on the histopathologic results of operative specimen. The overall 5-year survival rate was 71.4% (18/21) and 10-year survival rate 33% (7/21).