Long-term survivors after preoperative pelvic radiation therapy for locally unresectable rectal and sigmoid carcinoma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
From 1972-1976, 11 patients received moderate-dose pelvic preoperative radiation therapy (4500-4600 rad .+-. 500 rad boost) for initially unresectable rectal or sigmoid carcinoma. Of 6 patients subsequently explored, 5 had radical surgery and are alive without disease at least 5 yr later. Comparison of the present long-term follow-up series with prior (short-term follow-up) series suggests that moderate-dose preoperative pelvic radiation therapy can convert many of these lesions to being resectable ones for which long-term survival-without-disease can be achieved. Attention to irradiation dose and field size is stressed; a suggestion is made that patients whose tumors at final pathology still demonstrate extrarectal extension receive postoperative small-field boost irradiation.