Abstract
Recurrent rectal cancer poses a significant morbidity and mortality. Survival is ultimately shortened while patients concurrently suffer far greater disability with the recurrence. Recurrent pelvic disease often results in a diminished quality of life and is often associated with increased pain, incontinence, sexual and urinary dysfunction, and possibly colonic obstruction. The primary goal of therapy for rectal cancer is preventing recurrence by properly managing the disease on initial presentation. The secondary goal is to develop proper follow-up for patients with recurrent rectal cancer in order to detect recurrence early enough so that potentially curative surgery may be undertaken. Determining whether the patient may be cured needs a careful history, physical examination, and selected utilization of radiographic imaging modalities. Surgical intervention is often multidisciplinary combining the resources of colorectal, orthopedic, urologic, gynecologic, and plastic surgeons.
