Lateral lymph node involvement presents another challenge in rectum cancer in the age of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy + total mesorectal excision: an evaluation of survival outcomes.

Lateral lymph node involvement causes local recurrence to remain high after nCRT + TME. LLN status should be considered in treatment planning. Further studies are needed to define precise criteria for LLN involvement and the effect of LLND on local recurrence and survival.