Perineal endometriosis with anal sphincter involvement is a rare occurrence with only nine cases reported so far. Two such cases are presented, and the literature is reviewed. In presented cases, diagnosis was suspected at clinical exam. Anal manometry was performed in both cases and endoanal ultrasound in one case. Wide surgical excision of endometriotic mass together with part of external anal sphincter was carried out in both cases. The procedure was followed by anal sphincter reconstruction in an "overlapping" fashion in the first and "apposition" technique in the second case. Histopathologic tests confirmed endometriosis. The recovery was uneventful in both cases with excellent functional results. Two years after the operation, patients are asymptomatic and fully continent. According to the literature and our own experience, wide excision of endometrioma with primary sphincteroplasty seems to be the best chance of cure with satisfactory functional results and should be recommended.

In the period 1990 - 2002, 1674 patients with colorectal carcinoma were operated in the First Surgical Clinic, Third Department for Colorectal Surgery. In 1264 cases (75.5%) rectal carcinoma was the indication for surgical treatment. Sphincter saving procedures (SSP) were performed in 824 (65.2%), abdominoperineal resections (APR) in 340 (26.9%) and resections of rectum with definitive stoma (Hartmann procedure) in 100 (7.9%) patients. We analyzed 1095 cases where curative SSP or APR were performed. All cases where curative resection was not possible because of liver metastases or inability to excise all macroscopic disease were excluded. In the group of patients where SSP was performed (767 cases), there were 26.6% high colorectal anastomoses (8cm from anal verge), 65.4% with low (4-8cm from anal verge) and 8.0% with intersphincteric coloanal anastomosis (cm from anal verge). Patohistological exam showed 5.3% Dukes A, 53.1% Dukes B, 36.5% Dukes C and 4.9% Dukes D. In the APR group (328 cases) there were 1.,5% Dukes A, 32.4% Dukes B, 62.1% Dukes C and 3.5% Dukes D. In this study we analyzed local recurrence and five-year survival in both groups. Recurrence of the disease was registered in 325 (29.6%) out of 1095 patients. Local recurrence was found in 81 (7.,4%) patients. In the SSP group recurrence occured in 215 (28.0%) out of 767 curative resections. Local recurrence alone was found in 53 patients (6.9%). SSP group was also divided into two subgroups; in the first group TME was performed and in second transection of mesorectum was carried out. Analyzing local recurrence in these two groups, in the TME group it was 7.6% and in the transection group 5.6%. In the APR group recurrence was registered in 110 (33.5%) out of 328 patients while local recurrence alone was found in 28 (8.5%) cases. Analyzing mortality we found that 234 (21.4%) out of 1095 patients died during follow-up. In the SSP group 154 out of 767 patients (20.1%) died. In the TME group mortality was 21.7% and in the transection group 16.9%. Mortality in the APR group showed that 80 out of 328 (24.4%) patients died during follow-up. Analysis by the Kaplan-Meier's test shows cumulative survival of 0.69 for all cases. In the SSP group cumulative survival is 0.72 and in the APR group 0.64 with statistically significant difference (p .001). In the TME group cumulative survival is 0.75 and in the transection group 0.,72 with statistically significant difference (p .05). We believe that performing SSP should be encouraged whenever it is possible because there is no difference in local recurrence rates and survival compared to APR. Transection of mesorectum can safely be performed in most cases with tumors located more than 8 cm form anal verge. We believe that exact preoperative staging and preoperative radiotherapy could improve results.

In the period 01.01.1991-12.31.1996, 523 operations due to rectal carcinoma were performed on the First Surgical Clinic, the Third Department for Colorectal Surgery. Most common localization of tumor was in the distal third of the rectum 65.2%. In the middle third, there were 28.9% and in the upper, intraperitoneal third 5.9%. We performed 286 low anterior stapled resections, 93 anterior resections with hand-sewn anastomosis and 144 Abdominoperineal excisions of rectum (Miles procedure). Pathohistological examination revealed adenocarcinoma in all cases. In this study we analyzed local recurrence and five-year survival after long-term follow-up in the group where Miles procedure was carried out as a potentially curative procedure (except 4.9% cased with Dukes D stage). There were 74.3% males and 23.7% females median age 59.2 years. According to Dukes classification there were 4.9% in stage A, 47.2% in stage B, 43.1% stage C, and 4.9% stage D. There were 4(2.7%) postoperative deaths. Recurrence of the disease was registered in 44 (30.5%) patients. Local recurrence alone was found in 14 (9.7%) patients, while distant spread was registered in 30 (20.8%) patients. At present, the median follow-up is at 72.9 months. Analysis by the Kaplan-Meier's test shows cumulative survival of 61%, and disease free survival of 63.4% at 60 months of the follow-up. Dukes C is associated with a very poor prognosis; survival after 60 months of follow up shows cumulative Survival of 0.35 while Dukes B has far better prognosis (0.86). Analysis of disease free survival by Dukes stage shows that Dukes C has the worst prognosis (disease free survival 0.36 after 60 months), while stage B has much better prognosis (0.84). Local recurrence analysis by the Kaplan-Meier's test shows disease free survival of 84.9% at 60 months of follow-up. Analysis of local recurrence by Dukes stage shows 1.00% disease free survival for cases in stage A, 0.94 for Dukes B and 0.66 for Dukes C, while overall comparison between groups regarding local recurrence using the Wilcoxon (Gehan) statistic shows statistically significant difference (p-0.005). There is no statistical difference between Dukes A and Dukes B cases in distribution of local recurrence.

Recurrence of the disease represents the major problem in patients who undergo "curative" resection for rectal cancer, with published rate ranging from 3 to 50%. Most relapses occur within first two years of follow-up. Depending on the site of the recurrence, it can be local or distant. It also can be solitary or diffuse. In terms of potential surgical cure the best results are achieved with solitary, localized metastases. The most common sites of the solitary metastases are pelvis, liver and lung, with a fairly even distribution among these three sites. Other sites of the localized metastases can be peritoneum, lymph nodes, brain, bone, abdominal wall, ureter and kidney. These sites are less common, but not so amenable to resection. Local recurrence varies depending on the original type of surgery. It can be stated that surgical technique directly influences local recurrence rate in patients with rectal cancer. According to the results from a number of different authors 5-year survival rate after reresection is 2-13% of all patients with locally recurrent cancer, both alone and associated with distant metastases. The most important moment in this problem is to decide when not to operate. The absolute contraindications for salvage surgery are: "frozen pelvis", aneuploid tumors and those with mucinous component, clinical or CT evidence of invasion of the pelvic nerves, lymphatics or veins, or ureter bilaterally. Also, evidence of involvement of the lateral pelvic sidewalls and/or upper sacral marrow, and/or S2 is an absolute contraindication for surgery. Thus, main goals of this type of surgery are respectively: palliation of symptoms, a good quality of life and, if possible, cure with low treatment-related complication rates.

The authors present the case of a 28-year-old nulliparous woman, who successfully carried a term pregnancy in a unicornuate uterus with a solid non-communicating rudimentary horn, and a history of myomectomy, without cerclage placement or tocolytic therapy. The patient was admitted to the present clinic for uterine fibroids and menorrhagia. The patient underwent laparotomy, during which a myomectomy was performed. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient conceived spontaneously. Routine obstetric ultrasounds revealed normal intrauterine fetal development. Cerclage and tocolytic therapy were not indicated at any stage of the pregnancy. A live female neonate was delivered via cesarean section at 39 weeks' gestation.