Local excision of rectal carcinoma

Hypothesis: Selected clinicopathologic characteristics of locally treated r ectal cancers are predictive of recurrence. Design: Case series review with median follow-up of 6 years. Setting: University medical center. Patients: Fifty-eight patients with rectal cancer who underwent local excis ions from February 1, 1982, to December 31, 1998. Main Outcome Measures: local and distant recurrence rates and overall survi val. Results: Overall local recurrence rate was 14% (8 patients). There were no local recurrences among patients treated with chemotherapy or radiation. Of patients not treated, local recurrence rates were 33%, 5%, 45%, and 25% fo r T0, T1,T2, and T3 tumors, respectively. No clinicopathologic factor predi cted local recurrence. Two patients developed distant recurrence. Overall s urvival was 98%, 93%, and 84% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Conclusion: In selected patients, outcomes for local excision combined with additional therapy may be equivalent to those for radical resection.