[Complete tumor remission after chemotherapy. What should be done?]

When confronted with complete chemotherapy-induced histological/clinical regression of a tumor, should the initial therapeutical strategy be modified? Such situations occur more and more frequently. Additional treatment must be carried out in all instances. Indeed, a correlation between complete clinical and histological regression was demonstrated in 66% of cases by histological examination of surgical specimens. It is doubtless recommended to avoid mutilating surgery and to continue chemotherapy for another year. However, whenever partial surgery had been programmed initially, the same indications and excision limits should be maintained. Combination chemical and surgical treatments yield better local results. Nonetheless, this is not always the case and the patient's tolerance to chemotherapy and background should influence the final decision. Radiotherapy then constitutes a choice alternative.