The minimum distal resection margin in rectal cancer surgery and its impact on local recurrence - A retrospective cohort analysis

Abstract

R0 resection of stage II and II rectal cancer of the mid and lower third after preoperative CRT yields excellent results even with DRM <1 cm. Minimizing the distal resection margin may allow surgeons to offer sphincter sparing surgery without compromising local recurrence-free and overall survival in individual patients.