Is the circumferential resection margin a predictor of local recurrence after preoperative radiotherapy and optimal surgery for rectal carcinoma?

Objective: Circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement has been correlated with a high risk of developing local recurrence. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of the CRM involvement after curative resection of rectal cancer in patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy where indicated.

Method: All patients with rectal cancer treated in a regional central unit from 1996 to 2004 were identified.

Magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative staging of rectal cancer in clinical practice: high accuracy in predicting circumferential margin with clinical benefit.

Objective: The aims were to determine agreement between staging of rectal cancer made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological examination and the influence of MRI on choice of radiotherapy (RT) and surgical procedure.

Method: In this retrospective audit, preoperative MRI was performed on 91 patients who underwent bowel resection, with 93% having total mesorectal excision. Tumour stage according to mural penetration, nodal status and circumferential resection margin (mCRM) involvement was assessed and compared with histopathology.

Abdominoperineal excision with partial anterior en bloc resection in multimodal management of low rectal cancer: a strategy to reduce local recurrence.

Purpose: Total mesorectal excision is the gold standard in the performance of an abdominoperineal resection but little has changed in the way the perineal operation is performed. A frequent problem is anterior dissection. The aim of this study was to present the results of abdominoperineal resection using selected partial anterior en bloc resection to reduce recurrence.

Histology and culture results among subjects with antibodies to CagA but no evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection with IgG ELISA.

Objective: Serological evidence of antibodies to cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antigens may exist without concomitant Helicobacter pylori IgG enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) seropositivity. In a recent case-control study, this serological pattern was strongly linked to stomach cancer, and it was hypothesized to represent "burned-out" CagA-positive infections. The aim of this analysis was to test this hypothesis.

Identification of sentinel nodes in patients with colon cancer.

Aims: Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy entails better staging in malignant melanoma and breast cancer and we used this technique in patients with colon cancer to possibly improve detection of lymphatic spread.

Methods: Thirty patients with invasive adenocarcinomas were investigated. The tumour status in identified sentinel node(s) was compared with the status in all other harvested regional nodes for each patient.