• Michael Ghadimi, Claus Rödel, Ralf Hofheinz, Hannah Flebbe, and Marian Grade.
• Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen; Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; Department of Medical Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg.
• Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2022 Aug 22; 119 (33-34): 570580570-580.

BackgroundColorectal cancer is one of the three most common types of cancer in Germany. Approximately 30% of these cancers are located in the rectum, corresponding to about 18 000 new cases per year.MethodsThis review is based on publications retrieved by a selective search in the PubMed database, including current guidelines and recommendations.ResultsSpecialized imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, is essential for treatment planning. In very early stages of this disease, tumors without risk factors can be excised locally. Otherwise, radical surgical resection with lymphadenectomy remains the standard treatment, and can be performed either minimally invasive or open. At present, neoadjuvant treatment plans are evolving in the direction of total neoadjuvant therapy. In addition, recent studies investigate whether the improved efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy might now enable patients with a complete clinical remission to be spared from surgical resection (organ-preserving watch-and-wait strategy).ConclusionThe treatment of rectal cancer is a prime example of an interdisciplinary, multimodal approach. In the past, the focus was mainly on improving oncologic outcomes; at present, increasing attention is being devoted to the patients' quality of life as well and the functional aspects of the various modes of treatment.

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