Background/Aims: To identify subgroups of patients at high risk of local re
lapse after curative surgery for rectal cancer.
Methodology. Thirty-five variables of 216 patients observed from January 19
87 to December 1995 were retrospectively analyzed according to univariate a
nd multivariate methods. Median follow-up was 38 months.
Results: High and moderate grade (P = 0.0001), Size greater than or equal t
o 5cm (P = 0.013), lymph nodes involvement (P = 0.002) and patients with lo
cally advanced rectal cancer underwent extensive surgery and postoperative
radiation significantly increased local relapse; whereas surgical procedure
and experience of surgeons had no influence.
Conclusions: The above-mentioned prognostic factors of rectal cancer that s
how a risk of local relapse 2- to 3.5-times higher than comparative conditi
ons could be useful in identifying subgroups of patients at high risk for l
ocal recurrence. These patients should undergo a careful selection accordin
g to risk factors of relapse in order to increase local control of disease
performing "optimal" primary surgery, effective postoperative radiation and
tailored follow-up.