Histopathological assessment of mesorectum in surgical specimens of rectal carcinoma

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is widely accepted as the preferred method of treatment for rectal cancer and currently considered as the “gold standard” method of treatment [1]. TME results in a lower recurrence rate than the traditional approaches such as the abdominoperineal resection. The circumferential resection margin positivity rate is about 5% or less for low anterior resections with TME, whereas it is between 10% and 25% for abdominoperineal excision of the rectum [2]. There is understandably, a higher local recurrence rate following the traditional methods of surgery for rectal cancer.