Complete Clinical Response in Rectal Adenocarcinoma: Review of Treatment Options

Abstract

The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by radical proctectomy with total mesorectal excision. A significant percentage of patients exhibit a pathological complete response with associated survival benefit. The management of patients who exhibit a complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and could potentially avoid major resection, is a topic of great interest in colorectal surgery today. This paper reviews treatment options for this population.