Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis for Dysplasia or Cancer Complicating Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Is Total Mesorectal Excision Always Mandatory? An Analysis of 36 Consecutive Patients

Background and Aims: The extent of lymph node harvesting during surgery for colorectal neoplasm [dysplasia and/or cancer] complicating inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is a matter of debate. This study aimed to assess the risk of invasive rectal cancer in patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis [IPAA] for colonic neoplasm complicating IBD, and thus to clarify whether a systematic total mesorectal excision [TME] should be systematically performed, or not, in those patients. Methods: From 1998 to 2015, all patients who underwent IPAA for colorectal neoplasm complicating IBD were included. Patients with preoperatively known rectal cancer were excluded. Pathological results were compared with preoperative endoscopic results. Results: A totalof 36 patients [mean age 49 +/- 14 years], comprising 10 women [31%] and 26 men [69%], underwent IPAA for colorectal neoplasm complicating IBD, with [n = 8; 22%] or without [n = 28; 78%] TME. Rectal cancer rate in pathological specimens was 0% [0/20] in patients with preoperatively known neoplasm only limited to the colon, 0% [0/8] among patients with preoperative rectal low-grade dysplasia, and 62% [5/8] among patients with preoperatively rectal high-grade dysplasia. Conclusions: These results do not support systematic TME during IPAA for colonic neoplasm complicating IBD. Considering its association with postoperative sexual disorder, TME should be discussed only on a case-by-case basis.