Post-resectional pelvic recurrences of rectal cancer

Introduction. Pelvic recurrence is not a rare event after resection with curative intent for rectal cancer originating from different segments of the rectum (lower, intermediary and superior part). Material and methods. This retrospective observational study included 106 patients; among these cases there were 79 patients who accepted surgical treatment of rectal cancer (treated in a governmental hospital between 2014 and 2017) and who were submitted to anterior resection with Hartmann’s procedure (6.5% of patients), anterior resection of rectosigmoid with colorectal anastomosis (78% of cases) and abdominoperineal resection (15% of cases). Results. After a 2 year follow-up, pelvic recurrence was reported in 11patients ~ 14% of cases: 33% rate of recurrence after Hartmann procedure, 9% rate of recurrence after abdominoperineal resection, and 10% rate of recurrence after anterior resection of rectosigmoid with colorectal anastomosis. 39 patients (49% of cases) had been submitted to preoperative radiotherapy: the pelvic recurrence rate among these cases was of 11% (9 patients). The rate of recurrence (RR) was also significantly influenced by the stage at diagnostic: stage III had RR = 52% of cases, stage II had RR = 41% of cases and stage I had RR = 0% of cases). The survival rate among surgically treated patients after 1 one year was 86%, and 80% in the first 2 years after treatment. Conclusions. Rectal cancer diagnosed in advanced stages has a high recurrence rate. A low recurrence rate indicates successful curative surgical treatment. The highest recurrence rate was reported after Hartmann procedure (which was usually performed as an emergency operation for locally advanced lesions)