PURPOSE: Rectal mucosectomy, a technique adapted from restorative proctocolectomy, has been used to treat large rectal villous tumors. We compared morbidity, tumor control, and functional outcome following rectal mucosectomy with the results of more conventional transanal excision and piecemeal snaring and fulguration in patients with large rectal villous tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of inpatients who had undergone transanal surgery for villous tumors. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 1993, rectal mucosectomy, transanal excision, and snaring and fulguration were performed, respectively, in 12, 26, and 23 patients with large rectal villous tumors. Tumors treated by rectal mucosectomy had a larger mean diameter (8.5 cm) than those treated by transanal excision or snaring and fulguration (4.5 cm and 4.2 cm, respectively; P < 0.0001, analysis of variance). After a mean follow-up of 47 months, incidence of tumor persistence was 17 percent following rectal mucosectomy, 20 percent following transanal excision, and 40 percent following snaring and fulguration (P = 0.04, chi-squared). Tumor recurrence was 8 percent after rectal mucosectomy compared with 36 and 44 percent, respectively, after transanal excision (P = 0.09, chi-squared) and snaring and fulguration (P = 0.04, chi-squared). Clinically significant postoperative bleeding did not occur after rectal mucosectomy; 17 percent of patients had persistent mild incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal mucosectomy for villous tumors, a new application of an established technique, is safe and associated with low rates of tumor persistence and recurrence. Rectal mucosectomy may result in mild incontinence and should be reserved for large or circumferential lesions. For smaller lesions, transanal excision results are more reliable tumor eradication than snaring and fulguration.
PURPOSE: Rectal mucosectomy, a technique adapted from restorative proctocolectomy, has been used to treat large rectal villous tumors. We compared morbidity, tumor control, and functional outcome following rectal mucosectomy with the results of more conventional transanal excision and piecemeal snaring and fulguration in patients with large rectal villous tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of inpatients who had undergone transanal surgery for villous tumors. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 1993, rectal mucosectomy, transanal excision, and snaring and fulguration were performed, respectively, in 12, 26, and 23 patients with large rectal villous tumors. Tumors treated by rectal mucosectomy had a larger mean diameter (8.5 cm) than those treated by transanal excision or snaring and fulguration (4.5 cm and 4.2 cm, respectively; P < 0.0001, analysis of variance). After a mean follow-up of 47 months, incidence of tumor persistence was 17 percent following rectal mucosectomy, 20 percent following transanal excision, and 40 percent following snaring and fulguration (P = 0.04, chi-squared). Tumor recurrence was 8 percent after rectal mucosectomy compared with 36 and 44 percent, respectively, after transanal excision (P = 0.09, chi-squared) and snaring and fulguration (P = 0.04, chi-squared). Clinically significant postoperative bleeding did not occur after rectal mucosectomy; 17 percent of patients had persistent mild incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal mucosectomy for villous tumors, a new application of an established technique, is safe and associated with low rates of tumor persistence and recurrence. Rectal mucosectomy may result in mild incontinence and should be reserved for large or circumferential lesions. For smaller lesions, transanal excision results are more reliable tumor eradication than snaring and fulguration.