Prognostic significance of the diameter of superior rectal vein for locally advanced rectal cancer
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the association between the diameter of the superior rectal vein (dSRV) and prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: This study included 420 LARC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression models were used for determining the relationship between superior rectal vein diameter and survival. Results: Patients whose dSRV >3.60 mm had better 3 years disease-free survival (85.50 vs 64.2%, p < 0.001) and overall survival (91.90 vs 82.20%, p = 0.005). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the dSRV was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: The dSRV measurement is valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients with LARC, and the prognosis of patients with a smaller dSRV seems to be poor.
Plain language summary
What is this summary about?
The superior rectal vein is the main drainage vein of the rectum, and when the rectum undergoes changes due to disease, the diameter of the superior rectal vein may be altered. Can this change reflect the outcome of patients with rectal cancer? Our article reviews data from our institution over a period of more than 3 years to answer this question.
What were the results?
We found that patients whose superior rectal vein had a diameter of larger than 3.60 mm had better survival.
What do the results mean?
We should be concerned about the diameter of the superior rectal vein before treatment, and patients with smaller diameters of the superior rectal vein should be more aware of the need for regular follow-up.
