Ma T, Zhong Q, Cao W, et al. - Researchers sought to quantify the impact of preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer on anatomic features in patients undergoing rectal cancer resection. In addition, they determined whether the changes inducted can predict leakage. In this study, they included 125 patients who were undergoing preoperative chemoradiation with sphincter-preserving surgery. Clinical anastomotic leakage was observed in 18 (14.4%) of the 125 included patients. Observations revealed that individuals not at risk for clinical anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer resection could be identified in correlation with increments of the width of the presacral space, thickness of the rectal wall, and distal part of the sigmoid colon. The first variable is identified as the strongest predictor. They recommend considering changes in these variables when appraising the application of defunctioning stoma.