J Korean Surg Soc.  2011 Aug;81(2):122-127. 10.4174/jkss.2011.81.2.122.

Clinicopathological features of retrorectal tumors in adults: 9 years of experience in a single institution

• Kye BH
• Kim HJ
• Cho HM
• Chin HM
• Kim JG

• KMID: 2096666
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2011.81.2.122

Abstract

PURPOSE
Primary tumors of the retrorectal space in adults are very rare. Most of them are benign masses, but malignant masses are reported on occasion. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features of retrorectal tumors.
METHODS
The medical records of fifteen patients who underwent surgical resection of a retrorectal tumor from March 2002 to April 2010 in our hospital were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS
Out of 15 patients, thirteen were females and two males. About 1.7 patients were diagnosed with retrorectal tumor annually in our hospital. The incidence is one per 1,500 surgeries performed under general anesthesia. An anterior approach was performed in eight patients and a posterior approach with excision of the coccyx in five patients. Combined approach was performed in two patients. Four patients (three in abdominal approach and one in combined approach) underwent laparoscopic resection. The mean size of tumors was 6.2 +/- 2.9 cm. Mature teratoma (four) and neurilemmoma (four) were the most common tumors. Except for one case of chondrosarcoma, fourteen tumors were confirmed to be of benign nature in histologic examination. Patients who underwent a transabdominal approach with laparoscopic surgery had no postoperative complication and had a tendency to experience earlier recovery than those with open surgery.
CONCLUSION
Surgical resection of a retrorectal tumor is recommended to relieve pressure symptoms and to confirm the diagnosis. A laparoscopic approach may offer excellent visualization of the deep structures in the retrorectal space, reduce surgical trauma, and be helpful for early postoperative recovery.

Keyword

Retrorectal tumor; Anterior approach; Posterior approach; Combined approach; Laparoscopy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anesthesia, General
Chondrosarcoma
Coccyx
Female
Humans
Incidence
Laparoscopy
Male
Medical Records
Neurilemmoma
Postoperative Complications
Teratoma

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