Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer typically receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by total mesorectal excision. Other treatment approaches, including transanal techniques and close surveillance, are becoming increasingly common following positive responses to chemoradiation. Lack of pathologic lymph node staging is one major disadvantage of these novel strategies. ⋯ We created a nomogram to predict lymph node positivity following neoadjuvant chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer that can serve as a valuable complement to imaging to aid clinicians and patients in determining the best treatment strategy.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
National Early Rectal Cancer Treatment Revisited.
Treatment of early stage rectal cancer has excellent oncological results. To reduce treatment-related mortality and morbidity and improve functional results, a focus on local resections is increasingly important. ⋯ Transanal endoscopic microsurgery had comparable 5-year relative survival to total mesorectal excision in T1 rectal cancer but inferior 5-year relative survival in T2 rectal cancer. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery was associated with higher local recurrence rates for both T1 and T2 tumors.
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The extralevator approach to abdominoperineal resection is associated with a decreased incidence of rectal perforation and circumferential resection margin positivity translating to lower recurrence rates. The abdominoperineal resection, as such, is an operation associated with poorer outcomes in comparison with low anterior resections, and any improvements in short-term outcomes are likely to be related to surgical technique. Robot assistance in extralevator abdominoperineal resection has shown improvement in these pathologic outcomes. Because these are surrogate markers for local recurrence and disease-free survival, long-term survival data are needed to assess the efficacy of this robot-assisted technique, exclusively in a dedicated abdominoperineal resection cohort. ⋯ Robot-assisted abdominoperineal resection is safe, feasible, and oncologically sound with short-term and long-term outcomes comparable to open and laparoscopic surgery.
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Intraperitoneal-free cancer cells are considered as an important prognostic tool in gastric and ovarian cancer. However, their significance in colorectal cancer remains more controversial. ⋯ Along with the Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index, intraperitoneal-free cancer cells are a strong prognostic factor for patients treated with curative intent for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis by complete cytoreductive surgery. The presence of intraperitoneal-free cancer cells should lead to the consideration of different treatment strategies such as extensive intraperitoneal lavage, targeted intraperitoneal therapies, or repeated intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
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Initial nonoperative management of diverticular abscess has become the standard of care; however, the need for elective resection after this index episode is unclear. ⋯ After initial successful nonoperative management of diverticulitis with abscess, expectant management with nonoperative intent is a safe long-term option with low rates of surgery, especially in the emergency setting. See Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, on the nonoperative management of diverticular abscess at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A234.