Date: Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Time: 09:00 - 17:30 CEST
Venue: Palais des Congrès
Supported by:
Course Directors
Dr. Laura Fernandez
Dr Jose Azevedo
Dr Miguel Cunha
Prof. Amjad Parvaiz
Registration fees
ESCP Member: €240 (including VAT)
Non-Member: 300 (including VAT)
Course Content
This practical course focuses on the Watch and Wait (WW) approach in rectal cancer, with particular emphasis on patient selection, surveillance strategies, and management of local regrowth. Through lectures, case discussions, and technical video sessions, participants will gain hands-on knowledge and updated insights from experts in the field.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the rationale and criteria for implementing a WW strategy in rectal cancer
- Differentiate the approach to early vs. locally advanced rectal tumors
- Recognize patterns of local regrowth and establish appropriate diagnostic tools
- Identify salvage strategies, including local excision and total mesorectal excision (TME)
- Apply surgical techniques and strategies through technical video analysis and expert commentary
Outline Programme
08:30 – Registration
09:00 – Watch and Wait strategy in locally advanced rectal cancer (Clinical case discussions)
11:00 – Watch and Wait strategy in early rectal cancer (Clinical case discussions)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Local regrowth: Diagnosis
15:00 – Local regrowth: salvage with local excision (Technical videos – Tips and tricks)
16:00 – Local regrowth: salvage with TME (Technical videos – Tips and tricks)
17:30 – Coffee and closing remarks