Preoperative radiotherapy has improved outcomes in rectal cancer patients, however, the optimal interval between radiation and proctectomy is unknown. A review of contemporary literature suggests an 8-12 week interval between radiation and surgery likely improves tumor response rates for rectal cancer patients undergoing proctectomy, which may convey modest improvements in long-term oncologic outcomes. Prolonged radiation-surgery intervals may expose surgeons to pelvic fibrosis, however, which may impact later-term proctectomies and compromise perioperative and oncologic outcomes.
Keywords: adenocarcinoma/radiotherapy; adenocarcinoma/surgery; rectal neoplasms/radiotherapy; rectal neoplasms/surgery.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Surgical Oncology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.