Salvage Surgery Beats Local Excision for Recurring Rectal Cancer After Watch-and-Wait

A watch-and-wait strategy may enhance organ preservation in rectal cancer, but local excision (LE) poses significant risks. In a study of 103 patients, those undergoing salvage total mesorectal excision (TME) after local regrowth exhibited superior oncological outcomes compared to LE, which increased recurrence and led to poorer quality of life metrics, particularly in mobility and mental health. The findings recommend tighter patient selection and the need for standardized treatment protocols post-watch-and-wait.