[Results of interdisciplinary sacrum resection in sacral recurrence of rectal carcinoma]

The authors present a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive patients surgically treated with curative intention for recurrent rectal cancer involving the sacrum. After radical partial sacral resection--extended resection in seven cases--the operative mortality rate was zero, postoperative long-term survival was reached in 17%, while effective palliation of pain was achieved in all cases. Nevertheless, 50% did not survive more than 1 year after the operation. The overall mean survival time was 22 months. Sacral recurrence can be resected safely and potentially curatively after careful patient selection.