Controversial aspects of rectal cancer surgery following preoperative chemoradiation

The role of surgery in the loco-regional control of adenocarcinoma of the rectum is being increasingly challenged by the good response rates of neoadjuvant oncological treatment. This review represents an opinion paper outlining well-established choices and new trends in surgical intervention, unresolved difficulties of local and regional staging of rectal malignancy and accurate assessment of tumour response to preoperative downstaging chemoradiation. The influence of preoperative chemoradiation on subsequent surgical strategy is discussed highlighting several controversial aspects of surgical management both when the tumour fails to respond and appears to be irresectable and when complete clinical response is observed.