Complete remission and increased leak rate. Where is the balance in the complex treatment of rectal cancer?

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation seems to become standard treatment for rectal cancer. Selection criteria varies from centre to centre, but confirmation of stage III disease results in preoperative treatment in most of them. Downstaging and higher resecability rate together with higher rate of sphincter preserving operations have been described. In some cases the complete remission rate is as high as 30%, however there is an associated rise in anastomotic leak rate. Material and methods:. All patients admitted with rectal cancer underwent preoperative staging, including clinical assessment, and abdominal C…