A case of intrapelvic recurrent rectal cancer in a long-term survivor who had repeat surgery

Abstract

A 57-year-old woman had a low anterior resection for rectal cancer. In the eighth postoperative month, she underwent an abdominoperineal resection for an anastomotic recurrence. Thereafter she developed two intrapelvic recurrences. After the first recurrence, a hystero-oophorectomy was done ; for each recurrence the tumor was resected, and chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy were given. Seven months after the last therapy, she was diagnosed as having yet another intrapelvic recurrence. A total pelvic exenteration with sacratomy (TPES) was done. The pathological diagnosis was a well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and a complete resection was achieved. There were no signs of recurrence for six years at which time until she was killed in a traffic accident. Extended surgery for intrapelvic recurrent rectal cancer, often achieves a negative margin resection, which leads to long-term survival. Extended radical surgery might be beneficial for repeat intrapelvic recurrences.