Patterns of pelvic invasion are prognostic in the treatment of locally recurrent rectal cancer

Background: Local recurrence of rectal cancer after curative resection remains a difficult clinical problem. The aim of this study was to elucidate prognostic risk factors after resection of recurrent cancer. Methods: Between January 1983 and December 1999, 83 patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer were studied retrospectively for survival benefit by re-resection. Sixty patients underwent resection for recurrent cancer, including total pelvic exenteration in 30 patients and sacrectomy in 23 patients. The extent of locally recurrent tumour was classified by the pattern of pelvic invasion as follows: localized, sacral invasion and lateral invasion. Results: Multivariate analysis showed that the pattern of pelvic invasion was a significant prognostic factor which independently influenced survival after resection of recurrent cancer (P < 0.001). The 5-year survival rates were 38 per cent in the localized type (n = 27), 10 per cent in the sacral invasive type (n = 16) and zero in the lateral invasive type (n = 17). Conclusion: Resection for locally recurrent rectal cancer is potentially curative in patients with localized or sacral invasive patterns of recurrence. Alternatives should be explored in patients with recurrence involving the lateral pelvic wall.