Functional and oncological outcomes after transanal local excision for rectal cancer. A prospective study.

Surgery for rectal cancer is impaired by a significant risk of perioperative morbidity, urinary and sexual disfunction due to nerve injuries and, obviously, the possibility of a temporary or even a permanent stoma. In order to mitigate the sequelae of such a major surgery, trans-anal local excision has been proposed in selected cases to treat rectal cancer. Aim of this prospective study is to investigate which patients might get a benefit from this less invasive treatment, evaluating both oncological and functional results.