Abdominosacral resection in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer

Abstract

Surgery is the only potentially radical treatment option for locally advanced and recurrent rectal tumors invading the sacral vertebrae. However, the choice of tactics for this patient category remains a difficult task. In spite of the fact that chemoradiation therapy yields good results, it is very difficult to differentiate postradiation changes and residual tumor; the immediate results of combined surgical interventions accompanied by sacral resection remain unsatisfactory, which restricts their use in routine practice and the frequency of unradical operations and local recurrences remains high. Optimization of the results of abdominosacral resection in patients with rectal cancer requires that the definite principles should be adhered to. The chief task of treatment (radical surgery) is fulfilled via resection of the sacrum and, if indicated, other organs even to the extent of performing total pelvic evisceration. In the present view, radiotherapy is a compulsory component of combined treatment that enhances surgical radicalism. However, its impact on the results of this intervention type has been inadequately studied so far. Careful selection of patients to undergo abdominosacral resection determines high requirements for preoperative tumor imaging techniques. Due to their technical complicacy, it is recommended that this operation should be made only by specialized cancer centers having capacities for performing combined treatment for colorectal cancer.