Surgical treatment of extraluminal pelvic recurrence from rectal cancer: oncological management and resection techniques

Local recurrence (LR) after curative surgery for rectal cancer occurs in 4 to 33% of cases especially with suboptimal surgery (non-TME). For numerous patients, diagnosis of LR is done at late stage of the disease because of the high rate of asymptomatic patients. MRI and PET-scan are the most performing exams to assess the local and general extension, with high diagnostic accuracy (sensibility 85% and specificity 92%). For extraluminal pelvic recurrences from rectal cancer, pelvic exenterations alone or with irradiation (preoperative and/or intraoperative) can afford a R0 resection rate ranging from 30% to 45% with acceptable morbidity. Morbidity and mortality rates are high for total exenteration and abdominosacral resection. After curative surgery, 5-year global survival from 30% to 40% is observed. Careful selection of patients with better preoperative status before resection is needed to achieve more curative resections and increase long-term survivor rates.