Modern management of rectal cancer: A 2006 update

Figure 1 Rectal wall anatomy. A: Schematic diagram of ERUS image; B: Actual image of normal ERUS[3].

Figure 2 Treatment algorithm for patients with rectal cancer and no evidence of distant metastases. LE: local excision; CRT: chemoradiation therapy. Observation following a LE of a T1 adenocarcinoma, even with good pathological features, may result in 20% local recurrence at 10 years.

Figure 3 Specialized equipment in use for the performance of TEM[90].

Figure 4 Diagram of pelvic autonomic nerve anatomy[73].

Figure 5 MRI of rectal cancer with demonstration of circumferential resection margin (CRM)[6]; Black arrows: rectal cancer; White arrows: mesorectal fascia; Dashed line: CRM, which is defined as the shortest distance from rectal cancer to the lateral resection margin of the mesorectum.

Figure 6 Illustrated comparison of a straight coloanal anastomosis and a coloanal anastomosis with a colonic J-pouch[74].

Figure 7 Technique of construction of a stapled coloanal anastomosis with a transverse coloplasty pouch. Alternatively, the pouch may be hand-sewn to the anal canal[77].