Surgical treatment of retrorectal (presacral) tumors

Figure 1 Schematic illustration of sacrococcyx, rectum and important ingredients of retrorectal space. (Simplified and reproduced from Nicholls et al[42]) and counterpart tomoscan.

Figure 2 Coronal and axial T2A magnetic resonance imaging planes of a cystic lesion (arrows) in the retrorectal space. UB: Urinary bladder; PB: Pubic bone; R: Rectum; S: Sacrococcyx.

Figure 3 Macroscopic appearance of dermoid cyst (A), epithelial inclusion cyst (B) and schwannoma (C).

Figure 4 Classification of retrorectal space depending on its relationship with the sacrum (Losanoff et al[20]).

Figure 5 Laparotomy for retrorectal space. Iliac vessels and RS can easily be reached after lateralization of rectum. IV: Iliac vessels; RS: Retrorectal Space; R: Rectum.

Figure 6 Excision of cystic lesion located low level in retrorectal space by using posterior approach.