Lateral lymph node metastasis represents a major cause of local pelvic recurrence after curative resection for mid-low rectal cancer. Considerable controversies over issues remain among eastern and western countries, with respect to the diagnosis of lateral lymph node metastasis, the multidisciplinary management regime, indication for lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, and the prognosis of surgical dissection. The purpose of this expert consensus is to improve the understanding of this condition among Chinese specialists, and to help standardizing the diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for lateral lymph node metastasis. Each statement and recommendation in this consensus were generated based on suggestions from at least three experts, agreed by a majority of experts from the Chinese expert panel. The evaluation criteria by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force was adopted for the grading of recommendations. In respect to the aforementioned controversies, the present consensus produced 21 statements on diagnosis and treatment for lateral lymph node metastasis. The pending issues in this consensus need further high-quality clinical practice and research.
侧方淋巴转移是中低位直肠癌患者术后局部复发的主要原因之一。东西方国家关于侧方淋巴结转移的诊断标准、综合治疗策略、手术指征和预后价值目前仍有争议。本共识旨在提高我国结直肠肿瘤临床医生对直肠癌侧方淋巴结转移的认识，以期规范侧方淋巴结转移的诊断标准和治疗策略。本共识达成的每项陈述和推荐均至少有3位相关领域的专家总结，获得了大多数专家的认可，并采用美国预防医学工作组的评价标准进行等级推荐。针对上述争议，本共识共提出21项侧方淋巴结诊疗相关的推荐陈述。在本共识中未解决的相关问题，尚需进一步临床实践，并积极开展高质量的临床研究逐步探索和解决。.
Keywords: Lateral lymph node dissection; Lateral lymph node metastasis; Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; Rectal neoplasms, mid-low.