Does Rectal Wall Tumor Eradication With Preoperative Chemoradiation Permit a Change in the Operative Strategy?

Abstract

Compete rectal wall tumor eradication does not necessarily imply complete response, because the mesorectum may harbor tumor cells. Thus, caution should be exercised when considering the avoidance of radical surgery. Reliable imaging methods and clinical predictors for favorable outcome are important to allow less radical approaches in the future.