Contact Radiation Therapy for Achieving Organ Preservation in Rectal Cancer After Standard Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: Looking for a Place in  the Sun

The concept of organ preservation in rectal cancer is now less controversial than it used to be (1, 2). The benefits from avoiding radical proctectomy and its associated immediate morbidity and mortality, functional consequences, and requirement for stomas have been demonstrated in multiple series (3, 4). Coupled with the acceptable oncologic outcomes following no immediate surgery, patients with complete clinical response (including clinical, endoscopic, and radiological) are now offered or at least are made aware of this “Watch& Wait ” strategy (5, 6).

Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics - January 31, 2018 Category: Radiology Authors: Angelita Habr-Gama, Rodrigo O. Perez Tags: Commentary Source Type: research