Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Robot-assisted Total Mesorectal Excision and Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection for Locally Advanced Middle-low Rectal Cancer
Published on: February 12, 2022
Is restaging with chest and abdominal CT scan after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer
Ninos Ayez1, Wijnand J Alberda, Jacobus W A Burger
1Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. n.ayez@erasmusmc.nl
Background:
There is no evidence regarding restaging of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer after a long course of neoadjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. This study evaluated the value of restaging with chest and abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan after radiotherapy.
Methods:
Between January 2000 and December 2010, all newly diagnosed patients in our tertiary referral hospital, who underwent a long course of radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer, were analyzed. Patients were only included if they had chest and abdominal imaging before and after radiotherapy treatment.
Results:
A total of 153 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were treated with curative intent were included. A change in treatment strategy due to new findings on the CT scan after radiotherapy was observed in 18 (12%) of 153 patients. Twelve patients (8%) were spared rectal surgery due to progressive metastatic disease.
Conclusions:
Restaging with a chest and abdominal CT scan after radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer is advisable because additional findings may alter the treatment strategy.
