title: Clinical evaluation of nerve-sparing surgery combined with preoperative radiotherapy in advanced rectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 1984, we have studied nerve-sparing surgery (NSS) combined with preoperative radiotherapy (XRT) in patients with advanced rectal cancer to preserve the genitourinary function without compromising radicality. The present aim was to evaluate the prognosis and the postoperative genitourinary function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 167 patients with advanced rectal cancer underwent curative nerve-sparing surgery. Among them, 60 underwent the preoperative therapy using irradiation (42.6 Gy) and tegafur suppository. Survival, local recurrence, and postoperative genitourinary function were investigated in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year survival rate was 80.9% and the local recurrence rate was 6.7% in the NSS+XRT group. Almost all of the patients receiving NSS could micturate spontaneously, but preservation of sexual function was not as successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better local control and preservation of urinary function were possible in advanced rectal cancer patients by NSS+XRT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarashina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunomura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000503:physiopathology