Annals of surgery
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To analyze the authors' experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and the subsequent incidence and pattern of recurrence in patients with positive and negative nodes. ⋯ Patients with positive sentinel nodes have a significantly increased risk for recurrence. The early pattern of first recurrence for patients with negative and positive results is characterized by a preponderance of locoregional sites, similar to that reported in previous series of elective lymph node dissection. These data underscore the need for careful pathologic analysis of the SLN as well as a careful, directed locoregional physical examination in the follow-up of these patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of quality of life in patients undergoing abdominoperineal extirpation or anterior resection for rectal cancer.
To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing anterior resection (AR) or abdominoperineal extirpation (APE) for rectal cancer in a sample of patients recruited from a field trial. ⋯ Patients undergoing APE do not have a poorer QoL than patients undergoing AR. Patients undergoing low AR have a lower QoL than those undergoing APE. Attention should be paid to QoL concerns expressed by patients undergoing low AR.