Introduction The impact of the height of rectal cancer from the anal verge and its ultimate clinical significance is controversial ¹ (as debated by Tekkis et alin their published paper). The aim of this study is to assess the influence of rectal cancer height and oncological outcomes treated in a specialised colorectal cancer unit.

Method Prospectively collected data on a patient pathway manager (PPM) for patients who underwent primary rectal cancer treatment at our unit from January 2005 till December 2010 were analysed. Low cancer was defined as tumour <5 cm from the anal verge, as assessed by endoscopy, digital rectal examination and MRI scan. Recurrent cancer, palliative resection, perforated tumours and those requiring pelvic exenteration were excluded. Chi²test was used for statistical analysis.

Results There were 226 male and 133 female patients with mean age of 70 years (Range: 21–93). Of the 359 rectal cancer patients, 149 (41.5%) had low and 210 (58.5%) had medium/high cancer. Outcome data of tumour height, neo-adjuvant therapy, CRM status, type and mode of surgery and disease relapse is tabulated in Table 1.

Conclusion Height of rectal cancer does influence use of neo-adjuvant therapy and ultimate R0 resection rate. It does not influence loco-regional or systemic recurrent rates.

Disclosure of interest None Declared.

Reference

1. Bhangu A, Rasheed S, Tekkis P, et al. Does rectal cancer height influence the oncological outcome? Colorectal Dis.2014;16:801808