[Histopathologic changes of cancer of the rectum after neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy. Anatomo-radiologic correlation and prognostic implications]. / Modificazioni istologiche del cancro del retto dopo radio-chemioterapia neo-adiuvante. Correlazioni anatomo-radiologiche ed implicazioni prognostiche.

The histopathologic study of 24 specimens of radiated rectal cancers suggested new histologic criteria to define tumor regression after neo-adjuvant therapy. Better than traditional UICC staging system (pTNM), such criteria have identified those patients at higher risk of failure. Moreover, the study has confirmed the known difficulties of imaging studies in assuring an accurate staging of radiated rectal cancer before surgery.