Laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for lower rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Laparoscopic LLND is feasible and safe for patients with rectal cancer who were treated with preoperative CRT. Compared with open LLND, laparoscopic LLND might have several advantages such as higher yields of dissected LLNs and lower incidences of perineal wound infection and bowel obstruction.