Purpose: Surgical treatment for epidermoid carcinoma of the anus is reserved for patients after failure of primary chemoradiotherapy and consists of abdominoperineal resection with permanent iliac colostomy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the oncologic and the functional outcomes after abdominoperineal resection and pseudocontinent perineal colostomy for epidermoid carcinoma of the anus after external radiation at maximal doses (60 Gy).
Methods: Between 1990 and 2006, 95 patients underwent abdominoperineal resection for an epidermoid carcinoma of the anus. Eighteen (19 percent) underwent construction of a pseudocontinent perineal colostomy. Functional results were evaluated prospectively at regular intervals.
Results: Complete resection (R0) was obtained in 17 of 18 patients. After a median follow-up of 33 (range, 12-198) months, 15 of 18 patients were alive, and 11 were disease free. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 67 and 53 percent, respectively. Functional outcomes were available for 16 patients. According to the Kirwan score, 15 were continent, and 13 did not require pad protection. Overall, 15 of 16 patients were satisfied.
Conclusion: Pelvic reconstruction with a pseudocontinent perineal colostomy does not compromise the beneficial effect of salvage surgery, seems to be safe and feasible even after a high dose of radiotherapy, and provides a high degree of satisfaction.