Experience in performing multivisceral resections for pelvic cancer
Authors: Afanasyev S. G. , Usynin E. A. , Khadagaev I. B. , Fursov S. A. , Kolomiets L. A. , Usova A. V. , Frolova I. G. , Cheremisina О. V. 
Published: January 2025

Background. Treatment of patients with locally advanced pelvic cancer remains challenging. The use of modern surgical techniques has expanded the feasibilities of performing multivisceral resections (MVR) in this category of patients. However, the postoperative period in patients who have undergone MVR is associated with a high risk of developing postoperative complications. The purpose of the study was to assess the short-term and long-term treatment outcomes in patients with locally advanced and multiple-primary pelvic cancer. Material and Methods. From 2009 to 2021, 114 patients treated in the clinics of Cancer Research Institute of Tomsk National Research Medical Center underwent MVR for primary or recurrent rectal cancer (n=40, 35.1 % and n=4, 3.5 %, respectively), female reproductive cancer (endometrial cancer: n=18, 17.1 % and recurrent ovarian cancer: n=18, 17.1 %), primary and recurrent bladder cancer (n=15, 13.2 % and n=2, 1.8 %, respectively), synchronous multiple primary pelvic tumors (n=8, 7.0 %) and extraorgan mesenchymal tumors of the pelvis (n=4, 3.5 %). Paraneoplastic complications were observed in 31 (27.2 %) patients. Invasion to more than 2 adjacent pelvic organs was diagnosed in 52 (45.4 %) cases. Total pelvic evisceration (TPE) was performed in 9 (7.9 %) patients, including 5 (4.4 %) patients who underwent TPE for primary rectal cancer with extensive local spread and 4 (3.5 %) patients who underwent TPE for multiple primary cancer: 2 (1.75 %) for synchronous primary rectal cancer and bladder cancer and 2 (1.75 %) for primary rectal cancer and recurrent bladder cancer. MVR for rectal cancer was the most common (n=101, 88.6 %). Resections with the formation of colorectal anastomosis were performed in 75 (65.8 %) cases and obstructive resections of the rectum were performed in 14 (12.5 %) cases. Urinary tract surgeries were performed in 66 (57.5 %) cases. One-stage plastic surgery of the resected segment as a transposition of one or both ureters into the bottom of the bladder was performed in 22 (19.3 %) cases. Heterotopic and orthotopic plastic surgery of the bladder was performed in 19 (16.6 %) and 5 (4.4 %) cases, respectively. Combined uterine extirpations, including vaginal resection, were performed in 52 (45.4 %) cases. Grade III postoperative complications according to the Clavien–Dindo classification occurred in 18.4 % of cases. Urological complications were the most common (8.7 %). Postoperative mortality rate was 0.8 %. The assessment of the long-term outcomes was carried out using the example of patients with rectal cancer (n=45), as the most homogeneous and largest subgroup. The overall 3-year survival rate was 71.1 % and the relapse-free 3-year survival rate was 60.0 %. Conclusion. Treatment of locally advanced pelvic cancer requires extensive surgeries performed by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons. The immediate results can be assessed as satisfactory. In case of resection of the urinary tract as a component of MVR, regardless of the primary localization of the tumor, primary plastic surgery of the bladder and/or ureters is preferable. Long-term outcomes allow us to consider MVR as a method of choice in the treatment of this group of patients.