DECISION-MAKING IN CURATIVE RECTUM CARCINOMA SURGERY

Rectal carcinomas are increasingly treated by more and more differentiated regimens. Until the 1970s, the rectal excision was standard, whereas in 58% sphincter-saving procedures were performed during the last years. Locoregional recurrences are the main problem of surgical treatment for rectum carcinomas. They are of decisive importance for the patients. Without locoregional recurrence during the first two years, the overall five-year survival is 85%, which decreases tremendously to 23% in case of a locoregional recurrence. Overall, this rate depends primarily on patho-histological parameters of the primary, as well as on therapeutic modalities and quality, too. For this reason, the arguments for routine neo- or adjuvant radio-(chemo-)therapy, increasingly arising during the last two years, is debatable. Global recommendations do not realize that low rates of locoregional recurrences may be achieved by surgery alone, e.g., 13% in the surgical Department of the University of Erlangen. However, these patients do include some groups with increased risk, for example, those who have positive lymph nodes along the course of a named vascular trunk (18%). These patients at increased risk may profit from adjuvant-radio-(chemo-)therapy. This is not yet, however, proven by any prospective study.