Patients with rectal cancer treated by preoperative chemoradiation showed a surprisingly low rate of micrometastasis detection (7%), even in high-risk patients (T3 and T4 tumors). Lymph node micrometastasis was not associated with decreased overall or disease-free survival. The identification of mucinous deposits on lymph nodes with no viable tumor cells may be direct evidence of lymph node downstaging. The downstaging effect of preoperative chemoradiation therapy may be significant in reducing even micrometastasis detection in low rectal cancer managed by this treatment strategy.

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