Purpose: To recommend a new approach-transvaginal local excision of early rectal cancers-and report the results of the approach applied by dedicated surgeons at a specialized colorectal unit during a 10-year period.
Methods: The surgical outcome of 18 patients undergoing transvaginal local resection between January 1991 and August 2001 was reviewed. Patients were identified according to the consultants' personal records and cross-referenced with the operating room logs. Data were collected retrospectively, and follow-up was performed on all patients.
Results: A total of 18 patients underwent 18 procedures during the study period. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 104 months. There were no treatment-related complications. Two patients suffered from recurrences at a median follow-up time of 35.7 months, but they underwent subsequent surgical treatment: APR (one) and LAR (one). No evidence of disease was found during a median follow-up of 20 months (12 and 28 months). No one died.
Conclusions: Transvaginal local excision is an alternative and feasible technique with low rates of death and complications for the treatment of rectal cancer in strictly selected cases.