Resumen de Fecal incontinence and radiation dose on anal sphincter in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective, single-institutional study

Fernando Arias de la Vega, Clara Eíto Valdovinos, Gemma Asín Felipe, I. Mora, Koldo Cambra Contín, F. Mañeru, Berta Ibáñez Beroiz , Leire Arbea Moreno, A. Viudez, I. Hernández, Juan Ignacio Arrarás Urdániz, M. Errasti Viader, Marta Barrado Los Arcos, M. Campo Vargas, Ignacio Visus, S. Flamarique, Miguel Angel Ciga Lozano

• Background The objective of the study is to determine the correlations among the variables of dose and the sphincter function (SF) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative capecitabine/radiotherapy followed by low anterior resection (LAR) + TME.

  Methods We retrospectively reviewed 92 consecutive patients with LARC treated at our center with LAR from 2006 and more than 2 years free from disease. We re-contoured the anal sphincters (AS) of patients with the help of the radiologist. SF was assessed with the Wexner scale (0–20 points, being punctuation inversely proportional to annal sphincter functionality). All questionnaires were filled out between January 2010 and December 2012. Dosimetric parameters that have been studied include V20, V30, V40, V50, mean dose (Dmean), minimum dose (Dmin), D90 (dose received by 90% of the sphincter) and D98.

  Statistical analysis The correlations among the variables of dose and SF were studied by the Spearman correlation coefficient. Differences in SF relating to maximum doses to the sphincter were assessed by the Mann–Whitney test.

  Results Mean Wexner score was 5.5 points higher in those patients with V20 > 0 compared to those for which V20 = 0 (p = 0.008). In a multivariate regression model, results suggest that the effect of V20 on poor anal sphincter control is independent of the effect of distance, with an adjusted OR of 3.42.

  Conclusions In order to improve the SF in rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy/capecitabine followed by conservative surgery, the maximum radiation dose to the AS should be limited, when possible, to <20 Gy.