Retrorectal Tumors: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Abstract

Retrorectal tumors are most commonly benign in etiology, of a congenital nature, and have a female predominance. Complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of retrorectal tumor management. A minimal access surgery approach, when feasible, appears to be a safe option for the management of retrorectal tumors, with shorter operative time and length of stay.

Presacral mass in the setting of an ovarian cyst and abdominal pain

“…Benign lesions compose 70% in any category (figure 5). On the other hand, 30% of all lesions in this space are malignant 1. This rate may be considerably higher — Mayo Clinic’s experience2 — with these lesions over the course of 19 years reported at a malignancy rate of 43%.…”

“…All lesions in this location are estimated at 1 in 40 000 — a recent review detailing only 1708 patient cases in the literature to date 1. The age range at diagnosis is large (4–73 years), although the average age is 35 years.…”

“…Interestingly, tailgut cysts are more common in women, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1. Although women are overwhelming the majority affected, patients of the male gender and older age (53.9±11.5 vs 40.1±12.2 years) were more likely to have a malignant tumour 1. Benign lesions compose 70% in any category (figure 5).…”

Combined abdomino‐sacral laparoscopically assisted approach for retrorectal mass resection in a patient with Currarino's Syndrome – a video vignette

“…An appropriate preoperative strategy is crucial when surgery is needed for retrorectal tumours (RRT) . Surgical approaches may be purely anterior‐abdominal, posterior‐sacrococcygeal or combined, depending on the size and location of the tumor . We present the case of an 18‐year‐old woman with Currarino Syndrome who underwent surgery by a combined abdominal laparoscopic‐posterior Kraske approach for the resection of a large RRT.…”

“…To our knowledge, few cases have been reported in the literature using laparoscopic techniques in large RRT . The laparoscopic approach provides excellent exposure of pelvic structures, iliac vessels and ureters, allowing a respectable dissection of the tumour from above.…”