Current perspectives on the management of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in rectal cancer

Significant controversies exist with regards to the optimal management of lateral pelvic lymph nodes metastases(mLLN)in patients with low rectal cancer.The differing views held by Japanese and Western clinicians on the management of mLLN have been well documented.However,the adequacy of pelvic lymph node dissection(PLND)or neoadjuvant chemoradiation(NACRT)alone in addition to total mesorectal excision(TME)have recently come into question,due to the relatively high incidence of lateral local recurrences following PLND and TME,or NACRT and TME alone.Recently,a more selective approach to PLND has been suggested,involving a combination of neoadjuvant therapy,followed by PLND only to patients in whom the oncological benefit is likely to outweigh the risk of potential adverse events.A number of studies have attempted to retrospectively identify certain nodal characteristics on preoperative imaging,such as nodal size,appearance,and size reduction following neoadjuvant therapy.However,no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal criteria for a selective approach to PLND,partly due to the heterogeneity and retrospective nature of most of these studies.This review aims to provide an overview of recent evidence with regards to the diagnostic challenges,considerations for,and outcomes of the current management strategies for mLLN in rectal cancer patients.

Robotic surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer: Review of the current literature

With an ageing global population,we will see an increasing number of elderly patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)requiring surgery.However,it should be recognized that the elderly are a heterogenous group,with varying physiological and functional status.While traditionally viewed to be associated with frailty,comorbidities,and a higher risk of post operative morbidity,the advancements in minimally invasive surgery(MIS)and improvements in perioperative care have allowed CRC surgery to be safe and feasible in the elderly-chronological age alone should therefore not strictly be an exclusion criterion for curative surgery.However,as a form of MIS,laparoscopic assisted colorectal surgery(LACS)has the inherent disadvantages of:(1)Dependence on a trained assistant for retraction and laparoscope control;(2)The loss of wristed movement with reduced dexterity and suboptimal ergonomics;(3)A lack of intuitive movement due to the levering effect of trocars;and(4)An amplification of physiological tremors.Representing a technical evolution of LACS,robotic assisted colorectal surgery was introduced to overcome these limitations.In this minireview,we examine the evidence for robotic surgery in the elderly with CRC.