Total pelvic exenteration for mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from an implantation cyst 26 years after surgery for rectal cancer

A 47-year-old man underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer and was surveilled for 5 years without metastasis. Twenty-four years later, the patient developed an implantation cyst at the anastomotic site. Two years after the diagnosis, colonoscopy revealed a disintegrated area in the lesion, and pathological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed adenocarcinoma. Due to the suspicion of invasion into the surrounding organs, the patient underwent laparoscopic total pelvic exenteration after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. A transabdominal and transperineal endoscopic approach was used for safe en bloc excision of the tumor. Pathological examination of the specimen confirmed mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from the implantation cyst. Although an implantation cyst is considered benign, it is important to suspect malignant transformation when its appearance changes. For the accurate diagnosis of implantation cysts, surgeons, endoscopists, and radiologists should be aware of this disease.

Automated summary

A 47-year-old man who had previously undergone low anterior resection for rectal cancer developed an implantation cyst at the anastomotic site 24 years later. Two years after the cyst was diagnosed, pathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent laparoscopic total pelvic exenteration for suspected invasion into surrounding organs.