title: Prognostic profile in rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article was to review the prognostic factors of significance in rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of various reports and an examination of our data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current imaging techniques with endorectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging with a rectal probe, and possibly tagged monoclonal antibodies allow for presurgical assessment of the invasion of the rectal wall and detection of lymph node involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor penetration of the rectal wall and lymph node metastases are the most important prognostic indicators in rectal cancer and predict local and distant recurrences. When lymph node metastases occur, they are more common in small lymph nodes (< 5 mm). Patients with lymph node metastases always need to be considered for multimodality therapy. Tumors larger than or equal to T3 or with associated lymph node metastases should not be treated with sphincter-saving surgical procedures alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical Center of Delaware, Wilmington 19899.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor