Successful treatment of rectal cancer complicated by bladder invasion, peritumorally abscess, and a fistula in the anterior abdominal wall (case report)

This article reports the experience of treating a case of rectal cancer complicated by peritumorally abscess and intestinal fistulas in the anterior abdominal wall. Despite infectious complications, the patient underwent all stages of comprehensive treatment, including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, consolidation polychemotherapy, and surgery. After sigmostomy with a course of antibacterial therapy, the patient received one cycle of external beam radiotherapy plus capecitabine followed by one full and one partial cycle of consolidating polychemotherapy (CapOx). Afterwards, the patient underwent R0 total mesorectal excision. No disease progression was observed during the next two years. Thus, complicated cancer require additional therapy; however, it should not be considered as a contraindication for combination treatment or as a reason for changing its order recommended in clinical guidelines.