Technical feasibility of laparoscopic extended surgery beyond total mesorectal excision for primary or recurrent rectal cancer

Figure 1 T2-weighted axial image of lateral pelvic lymph nodes. A 71-year-old male experienced lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN) swelling in the left internal iliac region before chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The LPLN responded to CRT, but the patient underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal excision with left LPLN dissection. Pathologic examination of LPLNs showed two left internal iliac lymph node metastases.