Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41586945›Full record

ArticleJournal of gastrointestinal cancer2026

Bowel Function in Survivors of Rectal Cancer Managed with Watch-and-Wait Versus Surgery.

Sina Vatandoust, Luigi Sposato, David Wattchow, John Leung, Amitesh Roy, Dayan de Fontgalland, Paul Hollington, Gang Chen, Shahid Ullah, Michael Z Michael and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sina VatandoustFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia. sina.vatandoust@flinders.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4815-0994
Luigi SposatoFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5039-1236
David WattchowFlinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0180-7335
John LeungGenesisCare, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1834-9131
Amitesh RoyFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3583-7981
Dayan de FontgallandFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-2185-1736
Paul HollingtonFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6622-0060
Gang ChenCancer Health Services Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8385-5965
Shahid UllahFlinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0010-2640
Michael Z MichaelFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5954-7105
Christos S KarapetisFlinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1741-996X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer is associated with long-term bowel dysfunction, yet data on outcomes in patients managed with watch-and-wait is limited. This study compared bowel function in rectal cancer survivors managed with watch-and-wait versus sphincter-preserving surgery and evaluated the performance of two instruments: the Memorial Sloan Kettering Bowel Function Instrument (MSK-BFI) and the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) score within each cohort. PATIENTS AND

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, rectal cancer survivors treated with long-course chemoradiotherapy between 2011 and 2019 at Flinders Medical Centre were recruited. Participants without stomas completed the MSK-BFI, LARS, and comorbidity questionnaires. Demographics and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Outcomes were compared between the sustained watch-and-wait (WW) and surgical (SURG) cohorts. Associations were examined using regression models. Instrument comparisons were performed in each cohort using factor analysis.

resultsOf the 190 eligible survivors, 67 participants were included (WW, n=33; SURG, n=34). Surgery was associated with significantly worse bowel function across MSK-BFI domains and higher rates of Any LARS (91% vs. 67%) and Major LARS (70% vs. 36%). Female sex was independently associated with poorer bowel function. Factor analysis revealed that one factor accounted for bowel function in the SURG cohort, whereas two factors were required in the WW cohort, indicating greater complexity.

conclusionSurgery and female sex are associated with significantly worse bowel function in rectal cancer survivors. The WW cohort demonstrated more complex symptom patterns, supporting concurrent use of MSK-BFI and LARS until a WW-specific tool is developed. A larger, prospective study is underway to investigate the findings further.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsOrgan Sparing TreatmentsPostoperative ComplicationsRectal NeoplasmsWatchful WaitingAgedColorectal Surgical ProceduresCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLow Anterior Resection SyndromeMaleMiddle AgedBowel functionLow anterior resection syndrome (LARS)Memorial sloan kettering bowel function instrument (MSK-BFI)Patient-reported outcomesRectal cancerSphincter-preserving surgeryWatch-and-wait

Identifiers

PMID41586945
PMCPMC12835014

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.