<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><bold>Background.</bold> Although the preoperative radiochemotherapy and the optimised surgical technique have improved the outcome in patients with rectal cancer, the local recurrence still remains a therapeutic problem. In up to 50% of patients the local recurrence appears without simultaneous distant metastases. This review highlights current treatment options of locally recurrent rectal cancer.</p><p><bold>Conclusions.</bold> The optimal management of the isolated local recurrence remains a difficult and controversial issue. The radical surgical resection is the mainstay of the curative treatment, but an extended surgery can be associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. The preoperative chemoradiation for turnout down staging increases the chance of resectability and the addition of intraoperative radiotherapy may further improve the local control and survival. Re-irradiation is feasible in patients who already received irradiation as part of the primary rectal cancer treatment.</p></abstract>

Background. Although the preoperative radiochemotherapy and the optimised surgical technique have improved the outcome in patients with rectal cancer, the local recurrence still remains a therapeutic problem. In up to 50% of patients the local recurrence appears without simultaneous distant metastases. This review highlights current treatment options of locally recurrent rectal cancer.Conclusions. The optimal management of the isolated local recurrence remains a difficult and controversial issue. The radical surgical resection is the mainstay of the curative treatment, but an extended surgery can be associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. The preoperative chemoradiation for turnout down staging increases the chance of resectability and the addition of intraoperative radiotherapy may further improve the local control and survival. Re-irradiation is feasible in patients who already received irradiation as part of the primary rectal cancer treatment.

Locally recurrent rectal cancer: treatment options

Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia

Radiology and Oncology

{"article-title":"Locally recurrent rectal cancer: treatment options"}

Background. Although the preoperative radiochemotherapy and the optimised surgical technique have improved the outcome in patients with rectal cancer, the...

Locally recurrent rectal cancer: treatment options

Published Online: Sep 14, 2009

Page range: 144 - 151

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0028-6

Keywords
locally recurrent - rectal cancer, multi-modality therapy

This content is open access.

Locally recurrent rectal cancer: treatment options

Published Online: Sep 14, 2009

Page range: 144 - 151

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-009-0028-6

Keywordslocally recurrent - rectal cancer, multi-modality therapy

This content is open access.

Keywords
locally recurrent - rectal cancer, multi-modality therapy