Rectal Carcinoid

Abstract

Rectal carcinoid tumors present many difficulties for the surgeon to preserve anal function while their prognosis is generally favorable it known that about 15% of these tumors metastasize and many ultimately lead to the patient's death. Seventeen patients (M : F=8 : 9, mean age=48years) with rectal carcinoid tumor were treated at Seoul National University Hospital between 1981 and 1994. The most common symptoms were bowel habit changes. Asymptomatic tumors were discovered in three patients. There was no case in which the carcinoid syndrome was expressed. Size of rectal carcinoid tumor was less than 1 cm in 12 patients, between 1 cm and 2 cm in 4 patents, only in one case larger than 2 cm. Lever metastasis was found in one case. the depth of invasion of carcinoid was contained within submucosa in 7 cases. The most common treatment procedure was transanal excision which were performed in 5 cases. Abdominoperineal resection in 2 cases and sigmoidoscopic biopsy with laser coagulation in 4 cases. We performed excisional procedures in cases of invasion of proper musclel. The prognosis was good except for one case in which the patent died of liver metastasis. There was no recurrence after resection. According to our experience of carcinoid tumors, treatment principles should be determined by the size of tumor and depths of invasion.