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Principles of Rectal Cancer Management: Preoperative Staging, Neoadjuvant Treatment, Basic Principles of TME, and Adjuvant Treatment

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The SAGES Manual of Colorectal Surgery

Abstract

The treatment of rectal cancer has evolved remarkably over the past 200 years, mainly because of a better understanding of the anatomy, biology, and natural history of the disease. Important advances, including refinement of surgical technique, improved imaging, and selective use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy, have led to an increased number of sphincter-sparing operations, rectal and nerve preservation, lower local recurrence rates, and improved cancer survival. The use of minimally invasive techniques in combination with enhanced recovery protocols has resulted in quicker recovery, fewer complications, and shorter length of hospital stay. Multidisciplinary team management of rectal cancer – including surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists; pathologists; radiologists; gastroenterologists; and stoma therapists – has been shown to improve clinical decision-making and clinical outcomes for individuals with rectal cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Arthur Gelmis, editor in the Colorectal Surgery Service at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for his assistance in editing this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

    Emmanouil Pappou

  2. Department of Surgery, Stuart H.Q. Quan Chair in Colorectal Surgery, Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA

    Martin R. Weiser

Authors
  1. Emmanouil Pappou
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  2. Martin R. Weiser
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Correspondence to Martin R. Weiser .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Patricia Sylla

  2. Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Andreas M. Kaiser

  3. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA

    Daniel Popowich

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Pappou, E., Weiser, M.R. (2020). Principles of Rectal Cancer Management: Preoperative Staging, Neoadjuvant Treatment, Basic Principles of TME, and Adjuvant Treatment. In: Sylla, P., Kaiser, A., Popowich, D. (eds) The SAGES Manual of Colorectal Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24812-3_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24812-3_22

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