Abstract.
Primary adenocarcinomas of the retrorectal (presacral) space are uncommon and usually arise from cystic lesions developing from remnants of the embryological postanal gut (tail gut cysts) containing mucous-secreting epithelium. A singular case of a patient who presented with a retrorectal mass is described. A 70-year-old previously healthy man had a four-month history of perianal pain during defecation. Preoperative colonoscopy showed external compression of the lower rectum with normal mucosa; pelvic computed tomography demonstrated a 5.5×4.5 cm2 retrorectal oval mass, originating from the posterior lower rectal wall, containing cystic components and some small calcifications. The tumor, after complete resection via transanal approach, was shown to be a very rare case of primary adenocarcinoma of the presacral space. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and he is free from disease 4 years after surgery. Clinicopathological features and surgical treatment of this unusual tumor are discussed.
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Received: 29 January 2002 / Accepted: 20 November 2002
Correspondence to M. Solazzo
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Puccio, F., Solazzo, M., Marcianò, P. et al. Primary retrorectal adenocarcinoma: report of a case. Tech Coloproctol 7, 55–57 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s101510300009
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s101510300009