Fig. 1
![Fig. 1](http://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1186%2Fs40792-018-0439-y/MediaObjects/40792_2018_439_Fig1_HTML.gif)
a Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2-weighted images. Orange arrows indicate the recurrent tumor in the vaginal stump. b Schema of the MRI. Arrow 1, dissection along the anterior sacrum; dotted red arrow 2, dissection by transanal minimally invasive surgery (TEA); light blue arrow 3, subsequent dissection to create a communication between the abdominal dissection and the dissection created by TEA; dark blue arrow 4, vaginal transection in the final phase of surgery. T tumor, S sacrum, B bladder, Pb pubis, V vagina, R rectum, Ex external sphincter muscle, Lm levator muscle, Anst anastomosis from the prior surgery