Intraoperative Assessment of Distal Resection Margins Using Frozen Section in Mid and Low Rectal Cancer Surgery

Overview

This study aims to improve the safety of distal surgical margins in patients with middle and low rectal cancer who receive neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Although magnetic resonance imaging and colonoscopic evaluation after neoadjuvant radiotherapy may suggest complete or near-complete tumor regression, residual tumor cells can still be present in the submucosal and muscular layers of the rectal wall. This may increase the risk of inadequate surgical margins and local recurrence. In this study, patients with middle and low rectal cancer who are scheduled for surgery after neoadjuvant radiotherapy will be randomized into two groups. In the frozen section group, intraoperative frozen section analysis of the resection specimen will be performed immediately after specimen removal to assess the distal resection margin, and the surgical procedure will be guided according to the frozen section results. In the control group, standard surgical resection will be performed without intraoperative frozen section evaluation. Pathological findings, distal margin status, operative time, tumor stage, and recurrence during follow-up will be compared between the two groups to evaluate the impact of intraoperative frozen section analysis on surgical margin safety and oncological outcomes.

Middle and low rectal cancers often show a good response to neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. However, despite apparent tumor regression or disappearance on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative colonoscopic evaluation, residual tumor cells may persist within the submucosal or muscular layers of the rectal wall. This residual disease may not be detected by mucosal inspection alone and may lead to inadequate distal resection margins, increasing the risk of local recurrence or the need for more radical surgery. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether intraoperative frozen section analysis of the distal resection margin improves surgical margin safety in patients with middle and low rectal cancer undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant radiotherapy. This is a prospective, randomized clinical study conducted at Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital. Patients diagnosed with middle or low rectal adenocarcinoma (stage I-III) who have undergone short-course or long-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy and have been discussed in a multidisciplinary oncology council will be included. Following restaging with pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, patients deemed suitable for surgical treatment will be enrolled. Eligible patients will be randomized into two groups using a sealed-envelope method. All patients will undergo total mesorectal excision according to standard oncologic principles. Immediately before rectal transection, intraoperative colonoscopy will be performed in all patients, and rectal transection will be planned at 2 cm distal to the tumor site identified during colonoscopy using an endoscopic linear stapler. In the frozen section group, after specimen removal, the resection specimen will be immediately evaluated by an experienced gastrointestinal pathologist using intraoperative frozen section analysis. A distal margin of at least 1 cm will be considered oncologically safe. If the distal margin is found to be positive or closer than 1 cm, further rectal resection will be performed until a safe margin is achieved. If a safe distal margin cannot be obtained despite additional resection, abdominoperineal resection will be performed. In the control group, after specimen removal, anastomosis will be performed without intraoperative frozen section analysis, and the operation will be completed according to standard surgical practice. At the end of surgery, all specimens from both groups will undergo routine formalin-fixed pathological examination, including tumor staging and assessment of distal and circumferential resection margins. Patient demographics, operative time, pathological tumor stage, distal margin status, need for additional resection or abdominoperineal resection, and recurrence during follow-up will be recorded and compared between the two groups. The results of this study aim to determine whether intraoperative frozen section analysis contributes to safer distal surgical margins and improved oncological decision-making in the surgical treatment of middle and low rectal cancer following neoadjuvant radiotherapy.