BACKGROUND Stage IIIA rectal cancer has distinctive oncological features, including limited depth of intestinal wall invasion and early regional lymph node metastasis. We aim to compare survival outcomes and clinicopathological features for stage IIIA rectal cancer with those for stage II rectal cancer. METHODS We analyzed patients with stage II or stage IIIA rectal cancer treated with surger...

The rectal expansion and concomitant sensory function on graded, isobaric, rectal distension within the interval 5-60 cm H2O was investigated in 36 healthy young volunteers. Anal pressure and electromyography (EMG) from the external anal sphincter were simultaneously recorded. Rectal distension caused an initial rapid expansion followed by transient, often repeated, reflex rectal contractions a...

Rectal bleeding following any form of rectal surgery is a well recognised complication 1, 2, 3 & 4. However retro-rectal bleeding and tracking which then presents as rectal bleeding has not been reported in the literature. We describe a novel way of dealing with this technically difficult post-operative complication.We present two cases of significant rectal bleeding (one following STARR proced...

PURPOSE To determine whether large rectal volume on planning computed tomography (CT) results in lower tumor regression grade (TRG) after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in rectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed medical records of 113 patients treated with surgery following neoadjuvant CCRT for rectal cancer between January and December 2012. Rectal volume w...

The mechanisms of increased rectal stiffness in women with fecal incontinence (FI) and rectal urgency are not understood. Our hypothesis was that distention-induced activation of mechanosensitive L-type calcium channels in smooth muscle contributes to increased rectal stiffness in FI. Anal pressures, rectal distensibility (compliance, capacity, and contractile response to sinusoidal oscillation...

Aim: To investigate the rectal and anal sphincter factors that might contribute to the development of fecal incontinence (FI) after anal fissure and rectal prolapse surgery. Methods: Fourteen patients with FI after sphincterotomy (n = 8) and rectal prolapse surgery (n = 6) were studied [clinical assessment, rectosigmoidoscopy, anorectal manometry, including rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) me...

Introduction: Radiation therapy is one of the main treatments for rectal cancer. In three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, exposure of healthy tissue around the tumor is unavoidable. The small intestine is the most important organ at risk of rectal cancer radiotherapy. Intestinal complications are a major factor limiting the dose radiotherapy for rectal cancer. The most com...

BACKGROUND Rectal cancer with rectal prolapse is rare, described by only a few case reports. Recently, laparoscopic surgery has become standard procedure for either rectal cancer or rectal prolapse. However, the use of laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with rectal prolapse has not been reported. CASE PRESENTATION A 63-year-old Japanese woman suffered from rectal prolapse, ...

BACKGROUND Among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) taking combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the impact of rectal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on rectal HIV-1 shedding is unknown. METHODS Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA was quantified from rectal swabs collected for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis...

Rectal syphilis, known as a great masquerader, can be difficult to diagnose because of its variable symptoms. Gastroenterologists should be aware of the possibility of rectal syphilis when confronted with anorectal ulcers, and should gather a detailed history about sexual preferences and practices, including homosexuality. We report a case of primary rectal syphilis mimicking rectal cancer on r...