Macroscopic Evaluation of Rectal Cancer Resection Specimen: Clinical Significance of the Pathologist in Quality Control

Included were 180 patients. In 24% (n = 43), the mesorectum was incomplete. Patients in this group had an increased risk for local and distant recurrence, 36.1% v 20.3% recurrence in the group with a complete mesorectum (P = .02). Follow-up is too short to observe an effect on survival rates.

A patient’s prognosis is predicted by applying a classification of macroscopic completeness on a rectal resection specimen. We conclude that pathologists are able to judge the quality of TME for rectal cancer. With this direct interdisciplinary assessment instrument, we establish a new role of the pathologist in quality control.