ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: One of the most common sites of recurrence after a curative resection of rectal cancer is the pelvis, and local control is a major goal of surgical treatment. The advantages of lateral pelvic lymph node dissection are regarded as questionable because lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis does not occur so frequently and because a lateral lymphadenectomy has a negative influence on the postoperative quality of life. The aim of this study was to clarify if lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLD) conferred any benefit. METHODS: A total of 769 patients who underwent curative surgery for rectal cancer between 1981 and 2005 at the Department of Surgery, OOO Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred ninety-three of these patients underwent a lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, and 576 patients had a total mesorectal excision with high ligation of the IMA. RESULTS: There was no difference in pathological characteristics between the two groups. Patients who underwent a lateral pelvic lymph node dissection had no statistically significant difference in terms of the 5-year survival rate at stage II and III (64% vs 65% at stage II, P=0.391; 49% vs 47% at stage III, P=0.815). CONCLUSIONS: A lateral pelvic lymph node dissection has no advantage as part of a standard operation for rectal cancer. A total mesorectal excision alone has good local control and survival compared with a lateral pelvic lymph node dissection.