Local recurrence and survival rates after extended systematic lymph-node dissection for surgical treatment of rectal cancer.

Background/aims: Extended systematic lymph-node dissection (ESLND) is a surgical procedure aimed at decreasing the local recurrence rate of rectal cancer and increasing the survival rate. However, it is criticized because it has not shown the expected effects on survival, and it has been shown to increase the proportion of complications in rectal cancer surgery. This study was designed to determine incidence and patterns of recurrence after curative resection with or without ESLND for rectal cancer.

Methodology: A total of 184 patients with rectal cancer were reviewed with respect to surgical procedures, local recurrence and survival rates.

Results: 170 of 184 patients with rectal cancer were administered curative surgical resection. ESLND was added to the surgical procedure of 24 of these 170 patients. The local recurrence rate of the patients who did not receive lymph-node dissection was 15%, and the survival rate over 5 years was 58.9%. The local recurrence rate of the patients receiving ESLND was 12.5%, and the survival rate over 5 years was found to be 55.7% (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Because ESLND is a procedure added on to curative resection in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer, it increases the general anesthesia and length of surgery, and it is possible that some complications due to the operation itself may arise. In the current study and in a large amount of research in the literature, a statistically significant effect on the survival rate has not been found. In conclusion, the opinion has been reached that ESLND does not have an important benefit in the curative surgical treatment of rectal cancer.