ABSTRACT
Besides clinical evaluation, all patients with rectal cancer must be examined with CT of the chest and abdomen to assess the presence of metastases, pelvic MRI to stage the tumour locally, and if possible, colonoscopy to detect synchronous lesions. The recommended treatment is then discussed at an MDT conference and neoadjuvant radio- or chemoradiotherapy given according to national guidelines. A new digital rectal examination (DRE) and proctoscopy, CT and pelvic MRI should be performed around six weeks after treatment. The purpose is to detect potential new metastases and to assess tumour response after treatment. It is crucial to do a second MDT with careful MRI evaluation to detect a possible clinical complete response. If the post-treatment MRI shows a complete or near complete response, corresponding to clinical findings on DRE and endoscopy, the patient should be offered a prospective watch and wait protocol in a dedicated institution. With proper management of patients with rectal cancer, 20-25 procent may be saved from a rectal resection and the potential risk of a permanent stoma.
