title: Narrow distal resection margin may be sufficient for rectal cancer after chemoradiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  What constitutes an adequate length for the distal resection margin in patients with mid-to-distal rectal cancer after pre-operative chemoradiation therapy (PCRT) continues to be debated. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of the distal resection margin on oncological outcome and establish a guideline for the distal resection margin in patients with rectal cancer after PCRT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 204 patients undergoing low anterior resection after completion of chemoradiation therapy were examined. Associations between clinicopathological parameters, including the distal resection margin and oncological outcome, were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distal resection margin was not significantly associated with local recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival, or overall survival; subgroup analysis of the T3,4 group showed the same results. Further analysis using various lengths (0.5, 1.5, 1 and 2cm) of the resection margin did not show statistical significance for oncological outcomes. Pre-PCRT clinical stage, post-PCRT pathological T stage, and histological grade were significantly associated with disease-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing resection and pre-operative chemoradiotherapy, a narrow distal resection margin did not compromise oncological outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hee Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Kwon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hae-Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yong Beom
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seong Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Woo Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*