[Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Abscess-Forming Rectal Cancer-A Case Report]

We report a case of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for abscess-forming rectal cancer. A woman in her 60s visited her primary care physician because she noticed an increase in the quantity of vaginal discharge. An irregular mass of goose-egg size found on the right vaginal wall was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma on biopsy, and she was referred to our hospital. After further examination, the mass was diagnosed as RbP, cT4b(vaginal), cN1a, cM0, cStage Ⅲc rectal cancer with abscess formation. After 6 courses of CAPOX as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, rectal resection(combined resection of the posterior vaginal wall) was performed. Pathological diagnosis showed no tumor cells and lymph node metastasis. Four courses of CAPOX were administered as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient is still alive 4 years after surgery, without recurrence. When neoadjuvant chemotherapy is successful, radical resection is possible, even in cases with abscess formation, and long-term survival can be expected.