Preoperative staging for rectal cancer

doi:10.1136/bmj.38996.423102.BE

BMJ 2006;333:766-767 (14 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.38996.423102.BE

Editorial

Preoperative staging for rectal cancer

Magnetic resonance imaging can accurately predict the successof surgical resection

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of death frommalignant disease in the United Kingdom, with about 20 000 deathseach year. Around one million new cases (9% of all cancers)are diagnosed each year worldwide (CANCERMondial; www-dep.iarc.fr).As the UK population ages the incidence is predicted to rise.¹At present the only realistic prospect of cure is complete surgicalresection of the primary tumour. The restricted anatomical spacein the pelvis makes this technically easier to achieve for cancersof the colon than the rectum. Consequently, local recurrencerates after surgery for rectal cancer have been as high as 50%.Local recurrence is a devastating complication as it is invariablyfatal even without disseminated disease. Local recurrence canbe reduced by two methods—surgical technique and radiotherapy.Currently, radiotherapy is given to most patients even thoughonly a subgroup will benefit. There is increasing . . . [Full text of this article]

Ian Finlay, consultant colorectal surgeon

Department of Coloproctology, Lister Surgical Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER
(Ian.Finlay@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk)

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