Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum Guidelines 2010 for the treatment of colorectal cancer: comparison with western guidelines

The Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum published guidelines (GLs) for the treatment of colorectal cancer in 2005 to show standard treatment strategies and to standardize the quality of care for patients with colorectal cancer in Japan. The Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum GLs differ from western GLs in terms of the scope of lymph node dissection (D3 dissection is standard in Japan), treatment strategy for >= cT3 low rectal cancer (preoperative chemo-radiation vs lateral lymph node dissection), use of oxaliplatin-containing regimens as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III diseases (first choice vs not first choice), use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable liver metastases (established vs not established treatment) and surveillance for recurrence (more intensive in Japan with shorter intervals between CT scans).