Silva MMRL, et al. - The quality of life (QoL) of patients who undergo standard treatment for rectal cancer with sphincter preservation or definitive colostomy was compared in this analysis. Participants in the study were 125 patients with adenocarcinoma of the lower or middle rectum who had radical surgery with curative intent with a follow-up ≥ 1 year and divided into two groups. In group 1, 83 patients were subjected to low anterior resection and low colorectal or coloanal anastomosis, which was sphincters-preserving. In group 2, 42 patients were treated with abdominoperineal resection, followed by terminal definitive colostomy. It was observed that global QoL scores did not differ between groups. Researchers reported that patients who underwent definitive colostomy had significantly better functional and symptom scale scores, reflecting greater function with fewer symptoms.