title: Oncologic outcomes in rectal cancer patients with a ≤1-cm distal resection margin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, common application of sphincter-saving resection in rectal cancer has led to acceptance of a 1-cm distal resection margin (DRM). The aim of this study was to evaluate oncologic outcomes of a DRM ≤1 cm in sphincter-saving resection for rectal cancer. The outcomes of a DRM ≤0.5 cm was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed prospectively collected data from 415 patients who underwent sphincter-saving resection for mid and low rectal cancer between September 2006 and December 2012 at Korea University Anam Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups according to DRM measured in a formalin fixed specimen: ≤1 cm (n = 132) and >1 cm (n = 283). The DRM ≤1 cm group was divided into two subgroups: ≤0.5 cm (n = 45) and >0.5, ≤1 cm (n = 87).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up periods were 47.2 months. The 5-year local recurrence rate was 8.8% in the DRM ≤1 cm group and 8.5% in the DRM >1 cm group (p = 0.630). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 75.1 and 76.3% (p = 0.895), and the 5-year overall survival rate was 82.6 and 85.9% (p = 0.401), respectively. In subanalysis of the DRM ≤1 cm group, there was also no significant difference in the local recurrence and survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in local recurrence and survival based on DRM length. We found that DRM length less than 1 cm was not a prognostic factor for local recurrence or survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University College of Medicine, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Han Deok
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Nak Song
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Myun
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea. drkimsh@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seon Hahn
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D000072662:Margins of Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Distal resection margin; Oncologic outcomes; Rectal neoplasm; Sphincter-saving resection