Open Access

Indications for lateral lymph node dissection in patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature

  • Authors:
    • Yoshiaki Fujii
    • Kenji Kobayashi
    • Syo Kimura
    • Shuhei Uehara
    • Hirotaka Miyai
    • Shuji Takiguchi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 25, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2242
  • Article Number: 80
  • Copyright: © Fujii et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

The optimal surgical indications for small rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are controversial. Generally, treatment guidelines for rectal NETs >2 cm or with potential lymph node (LN) metastasis recommend formal oncologic low anterior resection (LAR) with total mesorectal excision (TME). However, rectal NETs have the potential to metastasize to the lateral lymph nodes (LLNs). To the best of our knowledge, there are no detailed reports in English on LLN metastasis from rectal NETs. A 47‑year‑old man diagnosed with a rectal NET underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The pathological diagnosis was NET G1. The tumor was 10 mm in diameter, and the tumor depth reached the submucosal layer. A period of 3 years after ESD, the patient was diagnosed with LN metastasis in the mesorectum and LLN metastasis on the left side from the NET. Robotic TME and bilateral LN dissection were performed. The pathological findings indicated that two of the 18 LNs in the mesorectum were metastatic, and all the LLNs on the left side were negative. In contrast, 1 of the 6 LLNs on the right side was metastatic. Early‑stage rectal NETs can metastasize to the LLNs, and it is very difficult to detect LLN metastasis based on size alone. TME alone may be insufficient to treat rectal NETs, and additional LLN dissection may be an important treatment strategy. However, it is increasingly difficult to determine the surgical indications for optimally timed LLN dissection.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

April-2021
Volume 14 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 2049-9450
Online ISSN:2049-9469

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Fujii Y, Kobayashi K, Kimura S, Uehara S, Miyai H and Takiguchi S: Indications for lateral lymph node dissection in patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature. Mol Clin Oncol 14: 80, 2021.
APA
Fujii, Y., Kobayashi, K., Kimura, S., Uehara, S., Miyai, H., & Takiguchi, S. (2021). Indications for lateral lymph node dissection in patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 14, 80. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2242
MLA
Fujii, Y., Kobayashi, K., Kimura, S., Uehara, S., Miyai, H., Takiguchi, S."Indications for lateral lymph node dissection in patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 14.4 (2021): 80.
Chicago
Fujii, Y., Kobayashi, K., Kimura, S., Uehara, S., Miyai, H., Takiguchi, S."Indications for lateral lymph node dissection in patients with rectal neuroendocrine tumors: A case report and review of the literature". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 14, no. 4 (2021): 80. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2242