This high rectal lesion was treated with chemoradiotherapy 3 months ago (left image). On re-assessment of the site, there is some erythema remaining. WHAT IS THE LIKELY NEXT STEP? a) APC ablation b) EMR c) ESD d) Further radiotherapy e) Surgery explanation
The initial staging of this rectal cancer was T2, N0. It took many years for Prof Angelita Habr-Gama (a famous colorectal surgeon from Sao Paulo, Brazil) to convince her fellow surgeons that neo-adjuvant chemoradiation for stage 0 rectal cancer could be as curative as surgery but without the need for a subsequent AP resection and a stoma. She produced a landmark paper; “Operative versus nonoperative treatment for stage 0 distal rectal cancer following chemoradiation therapy: long-term results,” [Ann Surg 2004;240(4):711-7] which proved the case. This particular patient had received chemoradiotherapy and the result has been good but NOT complete. Samples taken from that red area confirmed residual cancer. As it happens, the patient was not a surgical candidate and a brachytherapy boost was instead given. This was of course something of a trick question as both D and E are 'correct' next steps. |
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