title: Surgical management of locally recurrent rectal cancer.
abstract: The surgical management of locally recurrent rectal cancer may involve major procedures and is not for the faint-hearted. Nevertheless, such treatment is preferable to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; the latter will fail over a period of months during which the patient is likely to experience intractable pain. Radical surgery offers good palliation and a better quality of life. Survival is prolonged by such operations which may be curative in up to one-third of patients. Nevertheless, surgeons must be realistic in their assessment of and discussions with patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pemberton
mesh_terms: D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017792:Surgical Stapling; D013536:Suture Techniques