OBJECTIVETo compare the application of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) technique with Mason's operation in the treatment of early rectal cancer.

METHODSPatients with early rectal cancer were divided into two groups according to different surgical procedures they underwent during different period. Patients in Mason Group underwent Mason's operations during the period from January 2000 to March 2006; and in TEM Group were managed with TEM procedures from April 2006 to July 2011. There were 21 patients in TEM Group and 26 patients in Mason Group. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of patient's age, gender, preoperative TNM staging, and tumor diameter. In comparison with Mason Group, TEM Group had a longer distance of the tumor from the anal verge. The safety, postoperative complications, patients' postoperative recovery, and the oncological outcomes of 2 groups were compared with each other.

RESULTSNo perioperative death occurred in the two groups. The TEM Group had notably shorter operating time ((67 ± 24) minutes) and lesser intra-operative blood loss ((9 ± 6) ml) than Mason Group (t = 3.526 and 7.078, P < 0.05). The time of the postoperative bed rest, the urinary drainage, the recovery of oral intake, and the hospital stay in TEM Group were (1.3 ± 0.5) days, (1.2 ± 0.4) days, (1.5 ± 0.5) days, and (4.3 ± 1.6) days, respectively, and all were prominently shorter than those of Mason group (t = 4.925 - 14.640, P < 0.05). Patients in TEM group were followed up for an average of 36.5 months with one patient being lost, while patients in Mason group were followed up for an average of 81.6 months. The difference between the two groups in terms of short-term accumulated survival (94.8% vs. 96.3%) showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTEM technique is a favorable minimally invasive procedure associated with satisfactory oncological outcomes in the treatment of early rectal cancer.