Published online Feb 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i7.2220
Peer-review started: July 1, 2014
First decision: July 21, 2014
Revised: September 26, 2014
Accepted: November 30, 2014
Article in press: December 1, 2014
Published online: February 21, 2015
Processing time: 225 Days and 23.5 Hours
Multiple rectal carcinoids are rare. Due to the unreliability of endoscopic polypectomy in treating these submucosal lesions, a laparotomy is usually performed. We present a case report on multiple rectal carcinoids with three carcinoid foci < 10 mm in diameter located in the mid-rectum. Preoperative examination showed the lesions to be confined to the submucosal layer with no perirectal nodal involvement. A transanal endoscopic microsurgery was successfully performed to remove the three lesions with accurate full-thickness resection followed by secured suture closure. The postoperative pathology revealed neuroendocrine tumors G1 (carcinoids) located within the submucosal layer without lymphatic or vessel infiltration. Both the deep and lateral surgical margins were completely free of tumor cells. The patient recovered quickly and uneventfully. No tumor recurrence was observed at the six-month follow-up. For the multiple small rectal carcinoids without muscularis propria or lymphatic invasion, transanal endoscopic microsurgery offers a reliable and efficient alternative approach to traditional laparotomy for select patients, with the added advantages of minimally invasive surgery.
Core tip: A rare case of multiple small rectal carcinoids being successfully removed using the transanal endoscopic microsurgery technique. On the basis of careful preoperative evaluation and detailed postoperative pathological examination, transanal endoscopic microsurgery offers a safe, reliable and efficient alternative approach to the traditional surgeries for select patients with multiple rectal carcinoids.