Distribution of metastases in mesorectum is unpredictable: Metastases do not respect tumor localization even in small non-circumferential rectal cancers.

INTRODUCTION

Low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision (TME) is the gold standard for surgical treatment of rectal carcinoma. The radicality of this procedure is negatively counterbalanced by morbidity, lethality, and numerous other complications. Local excision would appear to be an attractive alternative, but its radicality is disputable due to risk of undetected metastasis to the mesorectum. The study aimed to determine the location of mesorectal metastases with respect to circumferentially - located tumors in patients with tumors involving less than one-third of the rectal circumference.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Resected specimens from patients with tumors smaller than one-third of the circumference were divided into: Sector A - tumorous, and Sector B - nontumorous. Group A was created by the pathologist cutting part of the rectal wall with the adjacent mesorectum, as though imitating a full-thickness excision.

RESULTS

The study comprised 35 patients with a mean age of 66 years, of which 23 were men (65.7%) and 12 were women (34.2%). Tumors were predominantly (y)pT1-T2; a total of 799 lymph nodes and 5 tumor satellites were examined. Six patients (17.1%) were identified as stage (y)pN+. A total of 3 positive findings (lymph node metastasis or satellites) were detected in 3 patients (8.5%) in tumorous Sector A; and 8 positive findings were detected in 4 patients (11.4%) in non-tumorous Sector B.

CONCLUSION

Rectal carcinoma involving one-third of the rectal circumference metastasizes discontinuously, and spreads into parts of the mesorectum beyond the tumor area.