Tumour-specific mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of oncological and functional outcomes.

Background: Tumour-specific mesorectal excision (TSME) practice for rectal cancer only relies on small retrospective studies. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the oncological and functional outcomes of TSME practice.

Methods: A systematic review protocol was drawn to include all the studies that compared partial versus total mesorectal excision (PME vs TME) practised for rectal adenocarcinoma up to 16 cm from the anal verge. A systematic literature search was conducted on EMBASE-Medline, Pubmed and Cochrane Library. Reports were screened for the study's outcomes: oncological radicality, postoperative anastomotic leak risk and functional outcomes. Included studies were appraised for risk-of-bias and meta-analysed. Evidence was rated with the GRADE approach.

Results: Twenty-seven studies were included, consisting of 12325 patients (PME n = 4460, 36.2%; TME n = 7865, 63.8%). PME was performed for tumours higher than 10 cm from the anal verge in 54.5% of patients. There was no difference between PME and TME in circumferential resection margin positivity (OR 1.31, 95%CI 0.43-3.95, p = 0.64; I = 38%), and local recurrence risk (HR 1.05, 95%CI 0.52-2.10, p = 0.90; I = 40%). The postoperative leak risk (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.27-0.67, p < 0.001; I = 60%) and the major low anterior resection syndrome risk (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.28-0.40, p < 0.001; I = 0%) were lower after PME surgery. No difference was found in urinary incontinence (OR 0.68, 95%CI 0.13-3.67, p = 0.66) and urinary retention after early catheter removal (OR 2.00, 95%CI 0.24-16.51, p = 0.52).

Conclusions: Evidence from this meta-analysis shows that TSME for rectal cancer has good oncological results and leads to the best-fitted functional results possible for the patient's condition.