Surgical management of locally recurrent rectal cancer.
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.
Sagar
P M
PM
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Pemberton
J H
JH
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